August 19th: Jealousy and Envy

Harboring these feelings will only affect me.

Matthew 20: 1 – 16

In the office where I work there is a saying, “The reward for good work is more work”. As middle management, the complaint I receive most often from my staff is “why am I receiving a similar salary to someone that is doing less?”.

My response is quite like the landowner’s response in Jesus’ parable from today’s gospel passage, “it is the salary to which you agreed when hired”.

While I do understand and sometimes share their feelings of dissatisfaction with those that “skate by” and are compensated the same, I am still driven to perform at my best. Harboring feelings of jealousy and envy only affects my mental/emotional state and prevents me from truly building a relationship with the Lord.

I pray today that I can let go of any feelings of jealousy and envy and be able to see the blessings God has bestowed and continues to bestow on me.