Bible: Just a little guilty pleasure...NOT!

Schadenfreude 20 March 2024

Isn’t it an unalloyed good to be successful? It can be, but it can also be a trap set by the deceiver. Or by my own carnal nature...

The obvious sin is pride: Look what I did! (Augustine called it the source of all other sin!)

Remember what DL Moody said when he was approached leaving the pulpit:

Parishioner: “That was the greatest sermon I ever heard!”

Moody: “I know. The devil already told me.”

Less obvious sin is relishing the failure, discomfort, or other abasement of a rival. Interestingly, English lacks an equivalent of the German, “Schadenfreude.” It’s a mash-up of “harm” and “Joy.” (Dozens of languages including Spanish and French, must borrow the German word).

It’s a well known truth that failure can build character more readily than success can.

No one enjoys failure (especially if we have an opponent who delights in Schadenfreude!). But we need to ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this?”

Isn’t God wonderful? When we fail a test, He always lets us take it again. And again. And again.

Grin and bear it! Learn from your rival’s failure, but don’t gloat too much.

Loving you

Grampa Jeff