comments
Media
Envy Though Scripture addresses many sins, it describes few as bluntly as it does envy. In Proverbs 14:30, Solomon writes that “...envy is rottenness to the bones” (NKJV).Envy has the ability to consume one’s character in the same way gangrene consumesone’s body, and it can do this with the speed of an unrelenting cancer.The Bible is rife with examples of envy and its destructiveness:• Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)• Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 16)• Rachel and Leah (Genesis 30:1)• Joseph’s brothers and Joseph (Genesis 37:11)• Korah and Moses (Numbers 16)• The Jewish leaders and Jesus (Mark 15:10)• The Jewish leaders and Paul (Acts 13:45)Individuals consumed with envy are often driven to destroy the object of their envy, andthese Biblical examples demonstrate that.Envy is not content to simmer in one’s heart. It does more than compel one to actdestructively, it propels one toward destructive action. The effects of envy are oftenmore than simply disastrous, they are swiftly disastrous.Because of this, God declares in no uncertain terms that those who are envious will notinherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). The Problems With EnvyHere are four reasons why God detests envy:Envy is carnal. On more than one occasion, Scripture describes envy as appealing totemporal and base desires:“For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, areyou not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV)“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are...envy...” (Galatians 5:19,21, NKJV)The problem with this?It’s exactly the opposite of what Christians are commanded to focus on:“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, whereChrist is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on thethings that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2, NASB) Envy is contrary to love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 clearly states that love “does notenvy” (NKJV).We can love, or we can envy, but we cannot do both.If our aim is to be godly, the choice is obvious:“God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.” (1John 4:16, NASB)Envy produces confusion and all kinds of evil. Envy is a gateway sin, leading to amultitude of other evils:“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” (James3:16, NKJV)Envy leads one to destroy the object of his envy. This was mentioned at the startof the lesson. Envy is not satisfied to merely feel ill toward another, it thrives ondestructive action against another.To drive this point home, we need only remember the heinous death that our Saviorsuffered.Even Pilate could see through the Jews’ murderous motives:“For he [Pilate] knew that because of envy they [the Jews] had handed Himover.” (Matthew 27: 18, NASB) The Heart Of The MatterAt the end of the day, the most important thing in life is relationship.Every command of God revolves around relationship, either to Him or to others. Everysingle one.“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and withall your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘Youshall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the wholeLaw and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NASB)Thus, anything that promotes God-approved relationship is good and right, andanything that destroys God-approved relationship is sin.Envy is the latter. KindnessIf envy rots a person to the core, kindness breathes new life into dead men’s bones.Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blindcan see.”It transcends language, background, intelligence level, and religious bent. It has thepower to lift up the downtrodden and the power to humble the arrogant.While envy burns bridges, kindness builds them.