OVERCOMING COMPETITION AND AMBITION
Today’s Reading: Romans 13:8; Proverbs 1:19; Hebrews 13:5 Version NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A8%3B+Proverbs+1%3A19%3B+Hebrews+13%3A5&version=NIV

In general, financial crises help and tend to unite spouses. Someone said: “If you do not know what we will eat tomorrow, maybe my wife will not worry so much with my urges.”

Small disputes and issues without much importance lose value in an acute crisis. However, if the financial crisis becomes a routine, especially for lack of control of expenses of one or both spouses, it will eventually lead to misunderstandings, aggression and even divorce.

In the struggle for higher wages and fully stocked pantries, it is necessary to overcome the competition and ambition. We must be aware of the materialistic and consumeristic society around us. The interest of propaganda is to create in us a strong conviction that we need that 75-inch TV. A common TV would be enough, or perhaps we would be happier without TV. However, because of the propaganda, we need an extra-large TV. Our neighbors already have one, and we think we are lagging behind. We make a loan with payments for twenty-four months leaving aside what God said: “Owe no one anything except to love one another; for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”

Besides, the apostle Paul presents a list of the sinful acts of the flesh, including selfish ambition, immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, vengeance, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness and orgies.

So are the paths of ambitious people: Their own ambition takes life away!

God tells us: Seek to live in peace, take care of business and work with your own hands, as you have been ordered. “Live without coveting money. Rather, settle for what you now have, because God has said: ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’”

Ildefonso Torres