Learn not to envy
others
2 King
5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a
great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the
LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man
in valor,
but he was a leper.
We may gather a third lesson—Not
to envy others; but to be content with our own lot, whatever
that may be. We little know what trials may be
lurking in what seems an enviable position of life—what 'adders'
may be sleeping in the flowery bank, or amid the bed of
roses—what rottenness and decay may be under the covering of
virgin snow. "I was envious at the foolish," says Asaph, "when I
saw the prosperity of the wicked. They are not in trouble, as
other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Behold,
these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase
in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed
my hands in innocency; for all the day long have I been plagued,
and chastened every morning.…When I thought to know this, it was
too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then
understood I their end. Surely You did set them in slippery
places; You cast them down into destruction. How are they
brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly
consumed with terrors" (Ps. 73:12-19).
Let us not be covetous of earthly greatness or
exaltation—of climbing higher the 'dizzy pyramid of human
opulence or ambition'. If we reached the envied summit, we might
in all likelihood find new vexations and trials to which we are
strangers in a humbler and lowlier lot. Though God has appointed
a diversity in human rank, we believe there is a greater
equality, a nicer proportionate adjustment in human happiness,
than is at first supposed. The increase of riches or of honors
brings too often only new cares, anxieties, and
responsibilities. True substantial happiness is not dependent on
circumstances, but on mind and character. Pass from many a
splendid mansion in city or suburban life, its inhabitants
pampered with all that wealth and luxury can give, but where, at
the same time, there is pride or jealousy, or the smouldering
fires of guilty passion—pass from this to some shepherd's hut in
one of our lonely mountain glens, the abode of honest toil,
essential virtue, and simple religion—where the debasement of
malignant envy, and the effeminacy of demon vice are
unknown—around whose frugal table a group of Nature's children
are lovingly gathered—and say, whether true sterling happiness
is found under the gorgeous glitter—or under the smoky rafter?
Rather have the cottage with the "great gain" of godliness and
contentment, than the palace without them. "A little that a just
man has, is better than the riches of many wicked." Whatever be
our earthly condition; whether it be at the extremes of opulence
and poverty, or the commoner lot of lowly mediocrity, be this
our alone object of aspiration and ambitious desire—to have God
as our portion—the possession of that loving Father's smile,
which transfigures, and beautifies all we are and all we
have—transmuting the basest metal into the gold of Ophir. The
poorest, so far as the world is concerned, if they have an
interest in these better riches, can adopt as their own, the
Apostle's paradox—"Having nothing, yet possessing all things."
-
John MacDuff, Naaman, 1873
