Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

– Galatians 5:26

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

This verse tells us that we should not be desirous of fame and status. Because of that, we envy one another and cannot get along well with brothers and sisters. Just as God’s words say, “As soon as it involves position, face, or reputation, everyone’s heart leaps in anticipation, and you always want to stand out, to be famous, to be glorified. You are unwilling to yield, always wanting to contend, although contending is embarrassing. However, you are not content not to contend. When you see someone stand out, you are jealous, feel hatred, complain, and feel it is unfair. ‘Why can’t I stand out? Why is it never me? Why is it always he who gets to stand out and it’s never my turn?’ There is some resentment. You try to repress the resentment, but you can’t, so you pray. After praying, you feel better for a little while, but later when you encounter the matter again you cannot overcome it. Is this not a case of immature stature? Is not a person’s falling into these conditions a trap? This is the bondage of a satanically corrupted nature.”

God’s word had revealed my state. When I saw my partner learn more efficiently than me, and her capability was better than me; in our group, she took the lead to study and taught everyone; the leader asked her to know the work and other colleagues praised her better knowledge, I was jealous of her. I thought: Why does she always stand out, and why is it not my turn? Even to the point of thinking that as long as she was there, there was no place for me. The more I thought, the more pain I felt. Moreover, I wanted to resign because I thought I couldn’t handle this job.

Later, I read some of God’s words: “You must learn to give up and set aside these things, to yield, to recommend others, to allow them to stand out. Do not struggle furiously and rush to take advantage as soon as you encounter an opportunity to stand out or obtain honor. Learn to back off, but do not delay the performing of your duty. Be a person who performs his duty out of the public eye, and who does not show off before others. The more you give up and set aside, the more peaceful your heart will be and the more space will open up within it, and the more your condition will improve. The more you struggle and compete, the darker will be your condition; try it if you don’t believe it. If you want to turn around this kind of condition, if you want not to be controlled by these things, then you must first set them aside and give them up.” God’s words showed me the way to practice: If I want to cast off the bonds of fame and status, I must learn to give up and set aside these things, to recommend others, to allow them to stand out. When I first practiced according to God’s words, I still wanted to struggle and compete. But every time I had this thought, I deliberately prayed to God, asking Him to examine my heart and give me resolution and perseverance to put the truth into practice. In this way, failed once and succeeded once, gradually, I succeeded more and more, and finally I was no longer bonded by fame and status. And I’m willing to be a little-known person. I’m thankful to God for saving me!