Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. —Romans 12:15
In her book The Music of His Promises, Elisabeth Elliot has a wonderful passage about 1 Corinthians 13:4:
If I imagine that I love my neighbor let me test my love by asking how glad I am that he has achieved what I have failed to achieve; that he has managed to acquire what I have long wished to acquire; that he is loved by someone or by many or in some way that has never been granted to me. . . . If I love my neighbor as myself, there will be no reason at all for the least twinge of jealousy—because I will be just as happy that he has what I wanted as I would be if I had it.1
As followers of Jesus, our heavenly Father has been so good to us. He has supplied our every need “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). That we should be envious of His goodness in other people’s lives is really a great sin against His grace.
1 Elisabeth Elliot, The Music of His Promises (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2000) 139–140.
Make it Personal
Pray that God would fill you with His love so you can sincerely rejoice with those who rejoice.