Read: Philippians 1:12-18

doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself. Philippians 1:3

Good Morning!

Life can seem to be unfair. Despite your prayers, education, and talents, you may find yourself trapped in a job while your less educated and talented coworker gets promoted.

“Selfish ambition,” Paul called it. People who are solely driven by self-advancement will go to great lengths to get ahead in the name of Jesus.

In the movie Amadeus, Antonio Salieri was a talented court musician in Vienna. With great dedication, he diligently honed his skills. Blessed with talent, he knew that God had bestowed upon him this gift. He had fervently prayed to God asking for the ability to create music that would glorify his Father. He wanted to lift the hearts of people while serving God through his music. Though Salieri prayed to God for favor, his motives were selfish ambitions.

A young prodigy, Mozart, blessed with immense talent, effortlessly dazzled crowds with his music. In addition to his musical genius, Mozart exhibited immaturity, vulgarity, and obscenity.

Why is life so unfair? Despite living a pious life as a servant of God, Salieri's talents go unrecognized. How can Mozart achieve success while indulging in worldly pleasures? Throughout his lifetime, Salieri dedicated himself to arduous and monotonous labor. Why should Mozart have found everything so easy?

Philippians 1:12-18 reminds us there were Christ followers Like Salieri, who envied others. Paul continued to spread the Gospel, whether in prison or facing other encounters. Paul was envied by many followers of Christ. In their quest for prestige, these followers used Paul's imprisonment as a means, to promote their prestige, not God’s.

When we focus on the blessings of others we lose focus on God’s plans for us to be able to minister to others with our unique gifts from God.

Don’t end up like Salieri who found himself in an insane asylum, where he cursed God for denying him the kind of talent that blessed young Mozart. Envy lurks on the path of the crushed spirit. Our life is not about us, it is all about what we can do for God