【双语灵修】和平与嫉妒 Peace And Envy
嫉妒驱使人们沉迷于他们巨大的渴望,有时甚至到了伤害拥有他们想要的东西的人的地步,或者破坏这个人拥有的东西,使他们无法拥有。
“心里平静,可使身体健康;但嫉妒能使骨头朽烂。” - 箴 14:30
有趣的是,在这句箴言中,和平(peace)与嫉妒(envy)形成了对比。我们通常认为和平是战争、争斗、不团结或冲突的反面。为什么作者要将和平来对比嫉妒呢?
嫉妒是指对某人充满憎恨,因为他们拥有你非常想要的东西。也许是财富、好车、美貌、人气、权力,或者其他一些你没有的优势或特权。嫉妒驱使人们沉迷于他们巨大的渴望,有时甚至到了伤害拥有他们想要的东西的人的地步,或者破坏这个人拥有的东西,使他们无法拥有。
一个被嫉妒吞噬的人,心中没有平静。他们内心的动荡会影响到他们的健康和幸福,以至于如箴言所说,它“使骨头朽烂”。
正如雅各书3:16-17所说:“在何处有嫉妒、纷争,就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。 惟独从上头来的智慧...后是和平,温良柔顺,满有怜悯,多结善果…”
只有在耶稣身上能找到整全的生命,祂给了我们“一颗和平的心”——一颗满足、安宁的心,对上帝给我们管理和照顾的一切美好事物感到心满意足。
祷告
慈爱的神,请赐给我一颗平安的心,使我不渴望我所没有的东西。帮助我用你慷慨赐给我的礼物服事你。奉耶稣的名,阿们。
箴言 14:30
30心中安静是肉体的生命,嫉妒是骨中的朽烂。
Peace And Envy
"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." - Proverbs 14:30
It's interesting that peace is contrasted with envy in this proverb. We usually think of peace as the opposite of war, strife, disunity, or conflict. Why would the writer contrast peace with envy?
Envy means being deeply resentful toward someone because they have something that you dearly want. Maybe it's wealth, a fine car, good looks, popularity, power, or some other advantage or privilege that you don't have. Envy drives people to obsess over their great longing, sometimes even to the point of harming the person who has what they want, or destroying what the person has so that they can't have it.
A person who is consumed with envy has no peace in their heart. Their inner turmoil can affect their health and well-being so much that, as the proverb says, it "rots the bones."
As James 3:16-17 puts it, "Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is . . . peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. . . ."
Full life is found in Jesus alone, who gives us "a heart at peace"—a heart that is content, at rest, and satisfied with whatever good things God has given us to steward and care for.
Prayer
Loving God, grant me a heart of peace that keeps me from longing for what I don't have. Help me to serve you with the generous gifts you have given me. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
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