KEY VERSE:
“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose” (JOHN 1:27).

According to Aeschylus, the ancient Greek dramatist known as the father of tragedy, who wrote plays in which envy and jealousy brought down many great and noble men, “It is in the character of very few men to honour without envy, a friend who has prospered”. Aeschylus knew quite a lot about the virtue of living without envy.

John the Baptist was one of the “very few men…without envy” who would honour a friend who has prospered. Free from this fatal evil, the prophet who came announcing the advent of the Saviour into the world, spoke in glorious terms about Jesus, the Messiah. He plainly admitted that Jesus was infinitely superior to him and he was not even worthy to unloose His shoes. There was no double-speak to suggest John had a hidden agenda or scheme to upstage the Lord or compete with Him.

Among the citizens of the kingdom of God where all have been purged for service by the blood of Jesus at salvation, there should be no such vices as envy and jealousy or rivalry that triggers ill will or malice. We all should humbly bring our skills and talents to His feet, knowing that all come from Him. Whatever we have are gifts from God and none has reason to be envious of anyone.

The whole world is ill at ease because of the prevalence of the rat-race spirit. There is fierce and cutthroat competition everywhere, fuelled by jealousy and envy, to outwit one another and occupy preeminent positions. No one is ready to submit to his neighbour. Christians can make a difference in our assemblies, homes, workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods, etc., as we put on the often forsaken garment of self-effacement.

To reach us, pls visit www.timeus.org.ng or email us at info@timeus.org.ng