Jealousy

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-19; 13:4

Anna came home from yet another lost softball game. As she walked past the living room cabinet, she saw her sister’s softball trophies. Macy’s team was undefeated. Anna sighed as she walked upstairs.

“Macy, have you started your math homework?” asked Anna.

“Started? I already finished. It’s easy,” said Macy.

Macy was in the advanced track at school. Anna was not. As Anna opened her binder to her math assignment, she felt a knot in her stomach. She couldn’t remember how to do the problems. She slammed her binder shut, put her head on her desk, and cried.

Anna heard a knock at her bedroom door. “Go away,” she said through tears.

Macy opened the door anyway. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“What’s wrong is that no matter how hard I try, you’re always there being a know-it-all!” yelled Anna.

“I’m not a know-it-all!” Macy yelled back and slammed the door.

“Who slammed that door?” Mom asked.

“I did,” said Macy, “because Anna called me a know-it-all.”

“Girls, come out here, please,” said Mom. Anna and Macy stepped out of their rooms.

“I have an idea,” Mom said. “Let’s play softball in the backyard.”

“But we don’t have any infielders,” said Macy.

“Or enough people for the basemen,” added Anna.

“We need people with different strengths to make a whole team, don’t we?” said Mom. “That’s true for more than just sports. As Christians, God has given each of us different strengths so we can work together to spread the good news of Jesus and show others His love. He made each of you girls to be smart and talented in your own way, and He loves you so much that Jesus died for you. Math might be harder for you, Anna, but Dad and I are so proud of you for winning your school’s essay contest.”

“I know.” Anna sighed. “I’m sorry for calling you a know-it-all, Macy.”

“I forgive you,” Macy said. “Would you like me to help you with your math homework?”

Anna smiled. “I’ll trade you homework help for the painting I made today.”

“Deal,” said Macy.

–Alexa Fetterly

How about you? Have you ever felt jealous of someone else? It’s easy to compare ourselves to friends and siblings, but God created each of us with unique gifts so we can show His love to others in our own special way. Jesus thought that you, in all your uniqueness, were worth dying for—that’s how much He loves you! Let Him replace your jealousy with love so you can use your gifts alongside other Christians to point people to Him.

Today's Key verse: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Today's Key thought: God made you unique for a purpose