A Key To Contentment

Read Proverbs 14

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 14:30

We’re a generation of high rollers: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high anxiety, and high levels of stress. While science pushes back the battle lines of disease, we continue to suffer devastating losses from self-inflicted illnesses. This proverb offers an unexpected insight. A “peaceful heart” does have an amazing impact on longevity, but how does jealousy affect life?

Jealousy implies strong feelings (some translations say “passion”) about what others have, what we think they have, or what we think we deserve. If we have very narrow expectations about life, and those expectations are disappointed, what follows is the temptation to become resentful, angry, and unhappy. By way of contrast, this proverb implies a certain degree of acceptance and contentment.

The proverb doesn’t argue for laziness and lack of goal setting. It simply states the fact that unhealthy desires and a jealous outlook will seriously undermine our ability to enjoy life. We will allow what we don’t have to spoil what we do have. We will shorten our lives even if we don’t shorten our years.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Relax!

Today, Lord, make me aware of the differences between healthy, proper desires and those that rob and spoil my contentment.