Overcoming Envy

Overcoming Envy

Definition

noun

1.

a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.

verb

1.

desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to (someone else).

Envy refers to the often-painful emotion caused by an awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another person.

It is a complex, socially unacceptable emotion made up of a mix of inferiority feelings, hostility, and resentment.

Day to day examples of Envy:

As humans we are naturally interested in the lives of others. Just look at social media today!

Its part of our wiring. We are fascinated with how other people look, act, talk and live, what they wear, what they do and what they have. There isn’t anything wrong with our observations, but it becomes a problem when we resent them for who they are, what they have and what they can do.

Envy is a global problem – you will find it in every age group, economic group, ethnic group and every place you may travel.

Can you associate with some of these statements?

• Why does she get to live in that house?

• Why does he get to drive in that car?

• Why does he get to be promoted?

• Why can’t I be that attractive or good looking?

• Its so unfair that they earn so much and do so little. I work so much harder!

If you find yourself using the phrase “It’s not fair,” you’ve already fallen into the trap of envy. You say, “It’s not fair! Why them? Why not me?”

Question: "What does the Bible say about envy?"

The Bible says envy is an act of the flesh, the result of human sin:

Galatians 5:19–21 - “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (see also Romans 1:29; 1 Peter 2:1–2).

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (NIV - Proverbs 14:30). In the New Living Translation likens envy to “cancer in the bones.”

James 3:14–16: “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

1 Corinthians 13:4 - “Love does not envy.” If we are envious of our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we do not love them.

Envy and jealousy are closely related and sometimes used interchangeably in modern Bible translations, but they are not quite synonymous.

There is such a thing as godly jealousy, but the Bible never speaks of envy in a good light.

• Corinthians 11:1 -2 “I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy”

• Exodus 34:14 - Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

• Joshua 24:19 - Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.

Another word in the Bible closely associated with envy is covetousness.

To covet is to have an excessive desire to possess what belongs to another. Envy or Covetousness is such a destructive attitude that God outlawed it in the Ten commandments:

Exodus 20:17 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Examples of Envy in the bible:

The first bout of envy in the Bible surfaces in the story of Cain and Abel. Cain, the older brother, killed Abel out of envy because God looked with favor on the younger brother’s sacrifice but did not accept Cain’s offering (Genesis 4:3–5).

Later, Esau envied his brother, Jacob, because of the blessing his father Isaac had given him (Genesis 27:41).

Rachel envied her sister because Leah gave birth to Jacob’s sons while Rachel remained childless (Genesis 30:1).

Saul envied David for his success in battle and his popularity among the people (1 Samuel 15:6–16).

The Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested because they were seized with envy (Mark 15:10).

Why do people envy?

• A dissatisfied heart: We experience envy when we cannot have what our heart desires. We have not yet learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:10–13), of delighting ourselves in the Lord.