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- Apr 25, 2006
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Challenged to reach higher
'He who walks with wise men will be wise.' PROVERBS 13:20
Ever met someone who fires you up to be the person God wants you to be! When you find them, spend time with them. In the Bible, Elisha spent many years living in Elijah's shadow but he saw it as a privilege, not a put-down. He was willing to set up tents, cook meals, wash clothes and run errands because it meant was there to see first-hand some of the greatest miracles in history.
Later Elisha said to Elijah, 'I want a double portion of the spirit that's at work in you' (2 Kings 2:9), and before his life was over Elisha worked twice as many miracles as Elijah. Seeing God bless someone else should challenge you to reach higher. This isn't envy; just a strong desire to receive more.
Check out 1 Samuel 1 and look at Hannah, the wife of this guy called Elkanah. She desperately wanted a child. It didn't help that her husband has another wife (they had different laws in those days!) who, unlike Hannah, was able to have kids. The more Hannah saw Peninnah have children the more she wanted her own. Plus Peninnah was a real cow about it as well but in response Hannah prayed. That's the right response!
It wasn't that Hannah was jealous and didn't want to see Peninnah have children, it was just that she wanted her own. If seeing others succeed makes you want to sabotage their success, you've missed the point. Learn how to buzz over the blessings of others, and realise that the same God who blessed them can bless you too. Let their blessings challenge you to reach higher!
written by Bob Gass
'He who walks with wise men will be wise.' PROVERBS 13:20
Ever met someone who fires you up to be the person God wants you to be! When you find them, spend time with them. In the Bible, Elisha spent many years living in Elijah's shadow but he saw it as a privilege, not a put-down. He was willing to set up tents, cook meals, wash clothes and run errands because it meant was there to see first-hand some of the greatest miracles in history.
Later Elisha said to Elijah, 'I want a double portion of the spirit that's at work in you' (2 Kings 2:9), and before his life was over Elisha worked twice as many miracles as Elijah. Seeing God bless someone else should challenge you to reach higher. This isn't envy; just a strong desire to receive more.
Check out 1 Samuel 1 and look at Hannah, the wife of this guy called Elkanah. She desperately wanted a child. It didn't help that her husband has another wife (they had different laws in those days!) who, unlike Hannah, was able to have kids. The more Hannah saw Peninnah have children the more she wanted her own. Plus Peninnah was a real cow about it as well but in response Hannah prayed. That's the right response!
It wasn't that Hannah was jealous and didn't want to see Peninnah have children, it was just that she wanted her own. If seeing others succeed makes you want to sabotage their success, you've missed the point. Learn how to buzz over the blessings of others, and realise that the same God who blessed them can bless you too. Let their blessings challenge you to reach higher!
written by Bob Gass
