Matthew 20

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers …” (v1).  The first-hired laborers were angry that they were paid the same as the latecomers, complaining that they had worked long, hard hours (v12).  Their grumbling implied that those who stood around idle, waiting anxiously for employment, had a better life.  Yet those hired early were the secure ones, working steadily in expectation of a reward.  Their jealousy cast a cloud over their own good fortune.

Jealousy keeps us focused on someone else’s perceived blessings and prevents us from gratefully enjoying our own.