Standing firm

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STANDING FIRM

Prov 27:4

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

NIV

It would be good for us to remember a story told to us by the historians about the jews having a story which has turned into a fable, it goes like this:

There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion; and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both. 

The idea of anger and fury is they are out in the open for everyone to see. When anger rears its ugly head there is usually some sort of loud, even screaming sounds which accompany it. It is unusual for anger to remain in silence, although it is possible, but fury or wrath cannot be silent. Both are overwhelming, like a torrent or a deluge. Anger comes pouring forth from the mouth, driven fiercely by the darkened heart, it hurts whom it is flooded upon. It causes pain and suffering likened to drowning in a deluge. Fury or wrath is nothing more than poisonous words intended to do harm. Yet the greatest harm from both anger and fury are done to the one engaged in using them. Yet, nothing is more harmful to the user than jealousy. When we think of how hateful and full of anger Saul was against David to actually throw a spear at him in an attempt to kill him, his anger, his wrath was not enough, David was able to escape it. But the jealousy of Saul was indeed his undoing in the end. We might fall prey to anger in a moment, or even spew forth a little fury from time to time, but we do not allow it to consume our daily life. They could be simply outbursts of emotions caught up in some self-serving agenda. But they are not a part of our inner being. However it is possible we could carry along in our daily walk a tad bit of jealousy or envy. There is always going to be someone who has more than us, or something better than we have. It is exasperated by their constant bragging. In our modern age of social media it is continually seen as they post all their greatest adventures and stuff they have, making sure everyone knows how much they do and have, at least that is how is seems. Perhaps they have no intent of being boastful, but it is not them who are in danger of jealousy or envy, but it is us. We cannot allow that type of feeling to creep into our heart and mind. We are a child of God, he has declared he gave us the authority to be called Children of God. What or who could we ever be envious of? Envy or jealousy is one of the many tools or arrows in the arsenal of the devil. God has equipped us with his armor in order that we can take our stand against them, in fact throughout the list of his armor he tells us four times in different ways to take our stand. 

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NIV

We need to take our stand against envy and jealously of any kind. We cannot afford to yield to this horrible inner destroyer. Anger and fury are visible and do their destructive work in the open, but jealously is the silent and stealthy killer. Who can stand up against it, we can because God has given us his armor. We can stand firm.