Three important reminders can help us in the fight against envy and jealousy: turning to the sovereignty of God (which Bridges understandably turns to as an important theme in dealing with many subtle sins); remembering we who are in Christ form one body, and each member belongs to the others (Romans 12:5, NIV); and finally, realizing that if we spend emotional energy on these sins, we "lose sight of what God might do uniquely in our lives."
Bridges also discusses competitiveness and controlling in this chapter as sins related to rivalry. The competitiveness section especially convicted me - the Pearces like to brag about our competitive genes (Killer Uno anyone?). Not that competitiveness in all forms is sinful, but Bridges says that it is basically an expression of selfishness. I don't think Bridges is advocating a fluffy anti-competition lifestyle (in fact, he encourages healthy competition especially among children and teens), but believes that the Scriptures emphasize doing one's best, working heartily, and seeking to bring glory to God in everything. Competition is good, but only in the context of glorifying God in doing our best. It might be easy to get sucked into bantering over semantics here - but Bridges is using "competition" in its sinful context - not in its gaming context. But competition in games can become sinful if we are ruthless or self-seeking for example.Sometimes it seems like American culture is ultra-competitive, ultra-self-serving. Other times, it seems feminine (not in a sexist way, but in a cultural-studies/sociological way) and anti-competition. The former reminds me of a jungle mentality, the latter of a flaky one. But there is a balance, Bridges claims. I know too often I fall into the uber-competitive category and give in to the temptation to selfishness and self-edification. But Paul says in Romans 12:10 that we are to "outdo one another in showing honor" (ESV). This verse drips with love and bringing glory to God, and leaves no room for selfishness, rivalry, or competitiveness.
2 comments:
We are nearing the end of the book - only two full chapters and one summary chapter to go. I am impressed with the effect of this book as a whole -- you really do see how acceptable we find attitudes to be that, to God and to our long term welfare, are completely unacceptable.
Also, the continual emphasis on God's sovereignty (control) in our lives is not redundant -- it rightly flows from Bridges' initial statement that "godlessness" is the root of so many other sins. (More fundamental than pride, for example.) These "respectable" sins tend to be areas where we are not looking at ourselves, our lives, or our needs in light of who God is to us.
Though each chapter has been quite short (the longest is 12 pages, most are about 8), they are rich with biblical truths and convicting words. I have been struck by how a lack of remembering God's sovereignty contributes to a wide variety of "respectable sins" and how guilty I am of living sinfully as a "functional deist" so often.
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