I gladly agreed to babysit my grandkids while their parents went out for the evening. After hugs, I asked the boys what they did over the weekend. (Both had separate adventures.) Bridger, age three, recounted breathlessly how he got to stay overnight with his aunt and uncle—and he had ice cream and rode a carousel and watched a movie! Next it was five-year-old Samuel’s turn. When asked what he did, he said, “Camping.” “Did you have fun?” I asked. “Not so much,” he answered forlornly.

我欣然同意在我儿子媳妇晚间外出时，替他们照看孩子。两个孙儿跟我拥抱问安之后，我问他们周末各自做了些什么事？三岁的弟弟，迫不急待地叙述着他在叔叔婶婶家过夜、吃了冰淇淋、坐了旋转木马，还看了场电影！轮到五岁的哥哥时，我问他做了些什么，他只说了：“露营。”我又问：“好玩吗？”他却神情落寞地回答：“不怎么好玩。”

Samuel experienced the age-old feeling of jealousy. He forgot how much fun he had camping with his dad when he heard his brother excitedly tell about his weekend.

五岁的哥哥经历了亘古以来就存在的嫉妒。他听了弟弟兴奋地谈到欢度周末，便忘了自己跟爸爸在露营时的乐趣。

All of us can fall prey to jealousy. King Saul gave in to the green-eyed monster of jealousy when the praise David received exceeded his: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (1 Sam. 18:7 ). Saul was outraged and “from that time on . . . kept a jealous eye on David” (v. 9 ). He was so incensed he tried to kill David!

每个人都可能心生嫉妒。当争战得胜后，许多妇女舞蹈唱歌说：“扫罗杀死千千，大卫杀死万万”（撒母耳记上18章7节）。扫罗王听到了大卫竟比他获得更多的赞扬，就怒不可遏，并且妒忌大卫（9节）。他在盛怒之余，甚至还试图将大卫除之而后快！

The comparison game is foolish and self-destructive. Someone will always have something we don’t or enjoy experiences different from ours. But God has already given us many blessings, including both life on this earth and the promise of eternal life to all who believe. Depending on His help and focusing on Him in thankfulness can help us to overcome jealousy.

俗话说：“人比人，气死人。”别人总有我们所没有的东西，或是享有跟我们不同的经历。但上帝已然赐给我们许多福分，祂不仅让我们今生得着祝福，而且还应许所有信靠祂的人都能得着永生。让我们倚靠上帝的帮助，并全心感谢祂，不再受嫉妒的捆绑与辖制。

Lord, You have given us life and the promise of life eternal if we trust in You as our Savior. For that—and so many other blessings—we give You praise!