went home, “laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread” (v. 4). “Naboth won’t sell me his vineyard,” whined the great King Ahab, “so I’ll just go to bed, sneer at the wall, and refuse to eat my lunch!” Envy turned the king into a pouting child. In the Book of Esther Haman was promoted to second in the kingdom and invited to attend the queen’s banquet. But eaten up with envy, he said, “Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate” (Esther 5:13). Envy soon brought Haman to hang on his own gallows. King Saul was upset when the women praised David by comparing him to Saul—“Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Sam. 18:7). Fueled by envy, Saul chased David around the country and tried to kill him. Saul’s envy eventually led to his own death. Someone said, “Envy shoots at another and wounds himself.” Envy always hurts the envious one. Envy causes you to question God. Like covetousness, envy says, “God, why didn’t You make me smart like him, or talented like her? Why does she resemble Sleeping Beauty and I the Wicked Witch of the West? Why am I so tall, or short, or shy? God, why did You make such a mess when you created me?” The fable is told of the little snail who envied the lobster with his big beautiful shell. “What a grand palace he carries on his back,” said the snail. “If I lived there, my friends would be so impressed!” The lobster shed his shell to grow a larger one, and the animals and birds watched as the little snail crawled into the empty shell of the lobster. The air was very cold in his new grand palace, and that night he died. The wise old crow observed the sad scene and said, “See, that’s what envy does. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death.”
“I wish I had his spiritual gifts.” “If only I had his job, his car . . . or his wife.” “He has it made. He never has any trials.” It is Sunday morning. Rushing off to church, you may see your neighbor sitting in his front-porch rocker, sipping iced tea, reading the newspaper. Like Mr. Grinch, do you want to bite yourself? Proverbs 23:17 says, “Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Envy Can Be Managed Though you will fight this sin until death, envy can be managed. First, admit that envy is a rotten sin. Envy eventually led to the crucifixion of Christ. Pilate said the Sanhedrin’s motive for delivering Jesus was envy (Matt. 27:18; Mark 15:10). Also, a heart that continues to be full of envy may reveal that one is without the Savior (Gal. 5:19–21). Envy is a serious offense. Second, pray for those whom you envy. This may soften your heart toward them. When F. B. Meyer held meetings in Northfield, Massachusetts, large crowds thronged to hear him. Then the great British Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan came to Northfield. Soon people were flocking to hear his brilliant expositions of Scripture instead. Meyer confessed at first he was envious. He said, “The only way I can conquer my feelings is to pray for Morgan daily, which I do.” Third, look for good in the one you envy. Work to encourage and praise him for his positive contributions to the kingdom of God. Someone noted that the man who keeps busy helping those below him won’t have time to envy the man above him . . . and there may not be anyone above him anyway. Fourth, accept yourself as God made you. Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of your own uniqueness and self-worth. Do really believe that God is only good?
Envy Is a Common Sin
This invisible, subtle attitude of envy
In the workplace you may envy someone who has more skill than you. She may be faster at the computer keyboard or more effective with customer communication. Do you rejoice when she makes a mistake? That is envy. What about the guy who was given the position you wanted? Do you secretly hope he fails? Envy is common in the home. Husbands and wives envy each other’s personalities, intelligence, or even knowledge of the Bible. Dads often envy new babies who steal Mom’s time and attention. Brothers and sisters envy each other’s ability to learn, skill in sports, or popularity. Culturecontrolled teens envy friends whose parents provide all their wants without restrictions. Sad to say, envy is alive and well in the church. The following sentiments are commonly found in the minds of church members: “She gets more attention than I do.” “More people talk to her than to me.” “Why aren’t my children like hers?”
is the mother of other sins; it is a common sin; but it is a sin that can be managed.
FrontLine • November/December 2010
Psalm 139:14–16 says that God created you with all the intelligence and ability you need to do His will. Be grateful that His works are perfect. Finally, envy the right things. Paul exhorts you to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31). Covet holiness, righteousness, godliness, and practical spiritual gifts that will most benefit the church and the kingdom of God. Pause and thank God for who He is and all that He has graciously given to you. Be grateful that you are divinely equipped to do whatever He calls you to do (1 Thess. 5:24). Say no to envy. Dr. Dave Barba and his wife, Claudia, plant churches in the United States through Press On! Ministries (www.ipresson.com).
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