Overcoming Envy

 Envy

When Jesus was questioned about the kinds of attitudes and behaviours that really matter He gave a clear and wise response.

“Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Mark 7:18, 21-23

So, we pretty easily can agree with Jesus about sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery etc. but what about that little 4 letter item near the end – ENVY.

What is envy?  One definition I read said this, “a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.” We want what someone else has and are no longer content with our lot in life. And then here comes this powerful warning from the Bible about the effects of envy.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14:30

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

James 3:16.

Pretty messy stuff – bones rotting, confusing, welcoming every evil thing.  Envy sounds like something to be avoided at all costs and given every effort to overcome it when we notice it creeping into our thoughts.  How can we go about that?

Try practicing gratitude.  When we have gratitude, we look at what we have with appreciation and stop dwelling on what we don’t have.

The next two things seem really counter-intuitive but they are the teaching from God’s Word so we can trust them.  We should celebrate the blessings of others and we should give to those more in need in order to encourage them and lift them up.  These two actions help us see what a good place we actually live in and how good God has been to us.

Underneath all of this is God’s celebrating God’s generous love to us and His provision for all our needs today.

Loving God, we get so many messages from media and the world around us that are directly drawing our hearts to envy.  Help us to be discerning and to be grateful for all You have given us.  Help us to root out envy quickly so it does not damage our hearts and the quality of our daily living. Nothing is better than a heart that is at peace with You and with ourselves.  Help us to move in that direction today, we pray. Amen

So, I want to ask God to help me identify and have the willingness and the grace to root out envy when discontentment clouds my day.  How about you?