Rivalries!

They exist everywhere: in the family, in conjugal and friendly relationships, in the work environment and even in the work of God. This kind of feeling had already risen in Jesus' days and today is not different.

The Lord Jesus had begun His ministry and was baptizing people. Many people repented of their sins and went to Him to take that step of faith. Seeing this, the disciples of John the Baptist were saddened that the people no longer went to be baptized with John, but with the Lord Jesus. So they brought their complaint to their master.

“They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, look, He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” John 3:26

We notice that these disciples were saddened by the success of the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Isn’t it what is happening today? How many people and servants of God get jealous when they see the success of other servants? They get sad because of the blessing of others. In addition to allowing themselves this kind of feelings, they spread it and contaminate others with poisonous comments and full of malice.

But when John heard these words, he rebuked them saying that he was nothing; that he came just to prepare the way for the Savior, and he rejoiced in it.

“You yourselves bear witness of me, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John 3: 28-29

Let's look at two important things: what we speak and what we hear. Whenever we speak carnal things, we show what is inside of us and the possibility of contaminating others is very big. On the other hand we must filter what we hear.  When someone is in the faith, and listens to something that sneakily wants to infiltrate and create division, rivalry, jealousy, envy, etc., she reacts like John. But if she is not in the faith, when listening to negative words, she can be carried away by them and give rise to feelings or attitudes that displease God.

Do not listen nor feed these things because they will surely destroy you.