Rejoice!

Love does not envy or boast. —1 Corinthians 13:4

True love does not envy. When we love someone, we’re not jealous. We’re not envious of the possessions of others. In fact, this love can rejoice with those who have greater resources, position, or abilities.

I think one of the most difficult commands in the Bible for us to obey (and one we frequently neglect) is the command to rejoice with those who rejoice (Rom. 12:15). Your neighbor gets a new car, and you’re still driving a clunker that barely runs. Do you get excited because your neighbor got a nice new car? Or is it a more natural tendency to criticize and put others down because we’re jealous? Love and jealousy are mutually exclusive. If we have love, we will not be jealous.

True love is content with having our basic needs met and, of course, the most important thing that we can have—a right relationship with God. If Jesus Christ is my Savior and lives in my life and if I have eternal life and a clear conscience toward God, what else do I need?