Be Content

This is day 33 of my 40 day Lenten blog.

Resentment is a wicked sin that worms its way into our hearts and turns us against our neighbors. It grows naturally out of the deadly sin of envy. We start out envious of our neighbors job, or wife, or house, or whatever, then that envy turns into resentment. We start to judge him as not being good enough to get X or I'm more deserving of Y and soon enough we begin to resent him. Then hate him.

I've had to confess the sins of envy and resentment much more than I'd like. The solution to these sins comes from St. Paul who tells us that we should learn to be content with what we have. (Philippians 4:11). When we are content with what we have we have no reason to be envious and thus we will never resent our neighbors for their successes! But how can we be content with what we have? We must recognize all of the blessings that God has given us. We must realize that we do not deserve the blessings we already possess, much less even greater blessings. Only then can we truly start to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Today's prayer: Lord, You have blessed me with much more than I deserve. Thank You! Please help me to be content and to fight against the sins of envy and resentment. Amen.

R.C. VanLandingham lives in Florida with his wife and kids. He is the author of several books including the Christian fantasy books Peter Puckett & The Amulet of Eternity, Peter Puckett & the Enchanted Chalice, and Magdalene Hope & the Elves of Evermore.