IT'S NOT WORTH IT: ENVY

Greetings beloved, I welcome you to the month of October. I hope you are increasing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This month I will be sharing with you on what I titled ‘ENVY’. 

Galatians 1:21 classified envy as one of the works of the flesh and as a result it hinders your spiritual progress or growth. As it is written in Galatians 1:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other: So that you cannot do the things that you would.” Envy is an hindrance in the life of a believer and has the ability to pose huge damage. 

When envy springs up and is allowed to live and grow in a person’s heart, it has horrible consequences. We can see many accounts of that in the Bible. When Abel’s sacrifice was respected by God and Cain’s wasn’t, Cain killed his brother out of envy (Gen 4:3-8). When Korah was envious of Moses, he was swallowed up by the earth – Numbers 16. When Saul let envy of David enter his heart the end result was that he was killed in battle (1st Samuel 18). Even Jesus was killed by the religious leaders of the day out of envy. “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Proverbs 14:30. You see what the scripture says what envy brings? Rottenness! 

Envy is something that most people are familiar with. When we see that someone has something we would like to have – physical possessions, talent personality traits or ministries – then a natural human trait is to envy them. It takes a conscious work to become free from it, so that we can be thankful for what we have been given and rejoice with those who rejoice – Romans 12:15. 

It is not a sin to be tempted to envy but if it is allowed to live and fester it becomes destructive. Why is envy sin? Because it divides people. It destroys relationships, sows discord and creates a spirit of bitterness and evil. It causes people to act and speak in toxic ways. To become envious is definitely a sin and is defined as such in God’s word. The Bible says “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16. 

How do we overcome it? We begin by acknowledging it. It is natural for us to insist that we are not envious. But if the desire of our heart is to truly become free from all sin, then we need to humble ourselves and acknowledge the truth so that we can be helped by God. It begins with a thought. ‘That’s not fair,’ who do they think they are?” ‘Why don’t I get the recognition?” ‘Why is it that they are the ones who are always blessed?’ Simple things like that which causes our soul to react and over-react. Our ego is concerned. We can find it at work at school in our marriage and families and with our services to God. 

Paul testified that “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. By faith, we too can reckon ourselves – our feelings, thoughts, opinions, ego etc. to be crucified with Christ. Then we are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:7-11). When we live according to this faith, we can overcome the temptations to be envious and grow in contentment and thankfulness instead. Be content with what you have now; be thankful for where He has taken you so far. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (2nd Timothy 6:6). 

Beloved, do away with envy because it wastes your time and opportunities but also steal your joy. 

God bless you. See you next month.