Jude 1:11 (NKJV)

‘Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.’

There are three killers that I dread and I must flee from. These three killers bring damnation to any man who follows after them and I will not follow any one of these in Jesus name. The first is jealousy. Cain was so jealous of his brother that he killed him. Jealousy releases deep negative feelings that can fuel a fire of negative emotions and actions. Why should I be jealous of another man? Whatever they have is for them and whatever I have is for me. I must accept the hard truth that some people will out-perform me and out-shine me in every category. Because all fingers are not equal, I must accept that I will not always be the best and others will be better than me. And there is nothing wrong with that. The second dangerous killer is greed. This was the error of Balaam. Greed is that desire for more than your share. Greed makes you want what God has not given you and this inordinate desire will press you and push you out of God’s will. The third nasty killer is rebellion and rebellion springs from that prideful attitude that says, ‘I know better and I cannot submit to another.’ The proud man will find it hard to let others lead but is always thinking he is the best and knows most.

I must counteract these three diseases before they catch me. How do I overcome these? By pursuing the mindset of contentment. The content man is not jealous; he does not want more than his share and is easy to lead. If I will aspire to be content, pray to be content, guard me heart within the walls of contentment, then surely, I will escape the sure death springing from these three poisons.

‘Lord, as I walk with you, teach me how to live in contentment. Because your life is in me, I pray that you will always infuse into me, the mind of Christ and that I will thereby live as Christ did. Deliver me from any atom of jealousy, greed and rebellion. May my life be simple and contented with whatever you give me. In Jesus name. Amen.’