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Never be envious or jealous of others if you love God
Never be envious or jealous of others if you love God, because that would amount to doubting God’s goodness in your life.
Why must you be envious of sinners, especially those who look prosperous?
Do you want to have their final hopeless end as well? Or do you want to have the hope which comes from Christ Jesus alone?
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17-18)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (Psalm 37:1-3)
Image credit – Daily hope by Pastor Rick
Envy is a sin that starts first in the mind but once it’s put into action, it can harm others and self too
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
Some people are utterly lazy and some lack the right mindset for success, yet these people get very envious and jealous of others who succeed where they failed. Instead of being happy for the success of others, they only find faults with that person. In offices, you will see such kinds, who refuse to talk to a recently promoted colleague just because of envy. In families, you will notice people who won’t help their suffering kin but will do everything to mock a family member who just came out of joblessness, because of jealousy. In politics, you will see one politician who is willing to burn down the entire nation, just because he or she cannot see another politician getting praised by the people for his or her government policies. (Just to be clear, I’m not talking about any specific country, nor about some specific religion. I’m talking about the whole wide world.)
Don’t even say jealousy and envy motivate you
Anyone who claims jealousy and envy motivates them to do better is just plain wrong. Such a person’s wisdom is never from God and can therefore never be justified. You can succeed in life by being truthful and kind and hardworking.
But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. (James 3:14-16)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Aim to be free from envy and jealousy for your own welfare
Those who continue to remain envious and jealous are simply harming themselves. Firstly harming their thought life and eventually losing their body and soul.
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)
Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple. (Job 5:2)
Instead of jealousy and envy have true love and desire to grow in the Word of God
Instead of wasting your life, resist all jealousy and envy, and each sinful habit and instead love God in all truth. Read the Word of God and grow in it.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. (1 Peter 2:1-2)
Christ be with you!
Disciples of hope 