It can be tempting to let your focus drift to someone else’s ministry—to a leader who is reaching more people or has a more exciting ministry context. 

When you start to get concerned about something God is doing in another person’s ministry and envy starts to build, focus on the plan God has for you.

Don’t get distracted.

Instead, center in on God’s will for your ministry.

In one of Jesus’ parables, vineyard workers grumble about not getting paid what they think they deserve.

The vineyard owner tells them, “Take your money and go!” (Matthew 20:14 GW).

He’s basically saying to those who can’t get past their envy, “It’s time to move on now. Quit having a pity party. Just get over it!”

Sometimes we get stuck in the past.

Maybe you still envy the pastor who was in your position during a time of greater perceived impact.

But why should you let what someone else got in the past keep you from God’s plan for your life right now?

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us” (TLB). The “particular” race means your unique race—the race that is only for you.

God has a ministry that he wants you to pursue that is unlike anyone else’s.

He planned it for you before you were even born, and it includes better things than you could ever dream for yourself.

Once you begin to discover and pursue the unique ministry that God has for your life, you won’t envy anyone anymore.

You’re released from the tyranny of having to be best all the time.

You’ll be free to be the best you can be, the leader God made you to be.

When you focus on God’s particular race for you, you’ll be so caught up in what he wants you to do that you won’t have time for envy.

You’ll be living your life for an audience of one.