Taking Pleasure in other peoples Pain or Failures, Suffering and Misery

 

Taking Pleasure in other peoples Pain or Failures, Suffering and Misery

 

I have noticed a phenomenon throughout my life that I find very interesting. Let me explain it this way. I have been watching the Mariners this season and the Mariners are the best team in baseball by far.

 

I have associated myself with the team because

 

1. I live in Seattle

 

2. I make no bones about the fact I am an avid fan.

 

I have noticed people who are not from Seattle rooting against the Mariners not because they necessarily dislike the Mariners but because they know that if the Mariners lose I won’t be as happy as if they would have won.

 

They take pleasure in my pain.

 

They love to see the team lose, they root against the team, even people from Montana who don’t have a baseball team root against the Mariners.

 

They are extremely happy when the Mariners lose because they know I won’t be and they take pleasure in seeing me not happy.

 

I have found this to be universal; people who are competitive take pleasure in others failures.

 

In this case I don’t even play the game, I am just a fan, and nevertheless, because they are considered my team, people will root against them just to see me get upset.

 

Yesterday the Mariners were ahead 12-0 and ended up losing 15-14 in the bottom of the eleventh. By the time the game was over, there were a dozen Mariner haters cheering Cleveland on to victory, they weren’t cheering so much for Cleveland as they were against the Mariners.

 

This could be viewed as good old fashioned competition; however we weren’t playing against a team or a city that people were from. They simply were rooting against us because we like the Mariners, follow the Mariners and take pride in our association with the Mariners.

 

People in general who don’t have their life in gear like to see others drop a notch or two or three.

 

I think they believe it brings the two closer together.

 

There is a saying “misery loves company” and I believe people like to see successful people fall to prove

 

1. That they are human and

 

2. To see them suffer.

 

This is certainly contrary to what the Lord would have us do.

 

The Lord asks us to support one another, love one another, and live in peace and harmony with one another.

 

The Lord does not take pleasure in our pain, misery and suffering, and we shouldn’t do this either.

 

I have noticed all my life because of my passion and my will to succeed or win that people have constantly tried to bring me down a notch.

 

Many people can’t stand other people being successful.

 

Successful people are also targets of the have-nots.

 

Those that have not attempt to take from those that have.

 

This has been going on since the beginning of time.

 

The have-nots do not want to work to get what they want, the simply want what they want without effort and are constantly on the lookout for ways to take from those that have.

 

Earlier I wrote about the victim mentality of our society. There are people who are more content with taking than giving, not working (lazy) than working, living in pain versus joy, it is important to look out for the have-nots, you will recognize them by their work habits.

 

They are the ones always looking for the easiest path of least resistance.

 

They are not men and women of honor but dishonor.

 

They play the victim card any time they can; they are lazy, liars, cheats.

 

They are never on time, their work is shoddy, they make a lot of excuses, and they never have enough money and are always borrowing without returning.

 

Remember that with success come leaches and parasites and those that will use you, take advantage of you and take joy in your failure.

 

Never mind these people, keep your head held high, never compromise your integrity, always work hard.

 

With every failure you are one step closer to success.

 

Don’t be easily swayed, stand your ground, never give up and never quit.

 

Always keep your word, always.

 

Never be dishonest or tell a lie.

 

Your ends do not necessarily justify your means.

 

Take pride in your work, keep things simple, don’t surround yourself with clutter, stay focused, remember your dream, your goal, your plan, you mission.

 

Don’t get off course, stay on track.

 

The Lord will see you through and difficulty, and time of trouble, confusion or uncertainty.

 

Take one day at a time, don’t get ahead of yourself.

 

Stay humble; don’t boast of your achievements,

 

Thank the Lord for everything.

 

Find joy in everything.

 

I love you Lord Jesus Christ, Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

 

What a wonderful life you have blessed me with, thank you father for that which you have given me stewardship over.

 

I humble myself before you.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ^I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Luke 15:11-31 – The parable of the Lost Son – Prodigal Son – Father’s Day Message. Model of what a father should be.

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.