If a character examination test was given to a room of study participants and they were to rank the 7 deadly sins they commit from most guilty to the least, Envy would take the second to last in the list. (Of course, you can guess which would take the lust place)
Yet according to the latest scoop from UC San Diego, over 75% [1] of the unsuspecting study participants confessed to harboring Envy, with slightly more women than men.
You might be sitting there thinking, “Not me, I’m envy-free,” but hold on to your virtuous hats because this sin is sneakier than you’d imagine.
While many deny any association with the Envy bug, the reality check reveals that Envy has set up shop in the minds of the supermajority.
It could be that in this study, Envy was to be an easy read for you, but (don’t go just yet) let’s trigger you into a ‘compare and conclude’ understanding.
Envy Working Overtime: Picture This
Your pal, who couldn’t get within a mile of your exceptional grades during your academic glory days, now reigns as the wealthiest person you know. To top it off, they’re your boss in the very field you both studied.
Should you be happy for him, or should you wonder how in the world that could possibly happen?
Your neighbor’s kid wins an Ivy League scholarship, the lady next door all-of-a-sudden cruises in a Rover (“she’s in the Illuminati”), Steve the party clown steals all the shawties (minus Proverbs 31s), Mary won’t hush about her spiritual gifts, and you’re sick of it.
Your co-worker snags the promotion you had your eyes on, so you decide that being intelligent and hardworking doesn’t pay off.
Kevin hits the high notes better, Stella has nicer hair, James is a frequent flier, Cindy’s practically BFFs with the pastor, Timothy monopolizes class discussions while you get cut off, Erica boasts a charming hubby, and Bryan’s got the trophy for the sexiest wife.
Everything is blissful until we compare ourselves with others, even on church grounds.
Some would think this feeling is just a base emotion that comes to mind, like hunger, something you think you can control.
Yet, it is a handy compass pointing straight to the distance between our hearts and Jesus.
Envy Pop Quiz
Still not convinced you’re an Envy contestant?
You might not like this one.
Below is a true or false checklist.
Keep reading if you catch yourself lacking.
Envy Is Not Synonymous With Jealousy
I’m sure you now understand Envy, which will help us distinguish it from jealousy, which many use synonymously.
Envy is sorrowing over someone’s good.
Jealousy is the desire to keep what is your own from a third party.
This definition will, for some, clarify why the Bible mentions God as Jealous [2].
It pains God, our loving Father, when we kick against the pricks in our pursuit of transgression.
He sorrowfully witnesses His people toying with fire, seemingly oblivious to the inevitable burn that awaits.
To remind us of His affection in the language we understand, He calls us His own, stooping low to identify as a jealous God.
The Sin That Never Promises Good
While all 7 deadly sins may have a quick reward, Envy promises nothing good. Notice:
Pride offers the euphoria of being the top dog, anger waltzes in, promising the sweet taste of payback, greed unveils the illusion of swimming in wealth, sloth gives you a cozy escape from the treadmill of hard work, lust cranks up the volume on nerve-ending sensations, and gluttony opens the buffet to a feast of pleasures.
But when it comes to Envy, it does not bear any gifts of joy, only misery and discontent.
Isn’t it funny how you don’t yearn to envy a friend once they get a lucky fortune? You know it would only eat you up inside.
You realize that no one will sympathize with or applaud your envious feelings.
Envy is a private struggle because God didn’t give us the ability to read minds—what you might envy could be someone else’s burden.
Envy a Mental Illness or a Sin?
Before we dive into the antidote for Envy, consider this case to debate whether the struggle with Envy is a mental illness or just a case of sin-sensational drama:
A seemingly put-together lady visits a psychologist.
She unleashes a tidal wave of house-envy issues. With her husband, they buy this deluxe new home, and she thinks she’s living in the lap of luxury until…her posh friends invite her over.
Their mansion makes her place seem like a garden shed, and boom, the envy beast is unleashed.
Anxiety, negative self-talk, and a full-on misery marathon follow suit.
After a series of therapy sessions, the root of her envy tree sprouts from the seeds of poverty from her childhood.
Hand-me-downs, bullies, and a general sense of “I’m not worth much” brew in her past.
Fast-forward to adulthood, and when confronted with luxury, it triggers her old habit of feeling small and insignificant.
In her case, the sin of Envy isn’t a mysterious mental illness; it’s a case of deep-rooted comparison issues from way back when.
“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.And he brought them out and said,“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29-30)
Do you think your Envy comes from moral failings, or is it a psychological challenge you must address? Like the woman burdened with hidden bitterness, have you grown weary of a life of constant comparison and hasty conclusions?
Like the Jailer who sensed Paul and Silas’s Christ-like aura, is the pressing question echoing in your mind, “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Gratitude, Envy’s Remedy
The word ‘gratitude’ is derived from the Latin gratia, meaning ‘Grace’ or ‘Thankful’. It reflects a readiness to appreciate and return kindness, often in response to unearned favor or benefit from another’s actions.
The Bible teaches that no created being exists solely for itself. All of creation is interconnected, working together for our survival and happiness.
Thus, showing gratitude for this interconnectedness is not a moral suggestion but a virtue that should be nurtured for a well-lived life despite life’s troubles.
Sentiments of the Grateful
Grateful people often utter such statements:
- I’m thankful that I am alive.
- My life is a blessing rather than a cross to bear.
- I’m grateful for the upbringing I’ve had as a child.
- I can find reasons to be thankful even though today seems not mine.
- I am where I am today because of the help of many people in my life.
- My life is much easier because of the efforts of others.
- I praise God for His great blessing upon my neighbor, testifying that He cares for His people.
Have you declared any of these statements today? If not, consider what you might be trading your peace of mind for if you don’t try to count your blessings.
Envy is more about character than behavior, and developing gratitude requires intentional effort.
But do not give up, as Jesus is the answer to this. We all need human effort combined with divine workings to make it a success.
Thankfully, the Lord has given us His wisdom, on our part, to do so through His Word and divine impressions among men.
1. Practice Gratitude Journaling To Count Your Blessings
One activity many neglect due to busyness is keeping a gratitude journal. It’s helpful to reflect on your blessings regularly, even weekly.
The Bible texts, such as David’s poetic reflections, John and Mark’s accounts of Jesus’s life, and Moses’s records of the Israelites’ journey and God’s promises, were they all gratitude journals?
Individuals who appreciate this gratitude journaling have been reported to:
- Exercise more regularly.
- Be more optimistic about the future.
- Have fewer physical symptoms.
- Have a higher state of alertness, enthusiasm, attentiveness, and energy.
2. Have Daily Devotions To See God More and Less of Self
People who practice gratitude often attend religious services, pray, or study the Bible.
Setting aside time for daily devotions helps us see God’s mercy, the interconnectedness of life, and our duty to love our neighbors.
This contentment from following God’s will reduces our focus on material success.
We’ll measure success differently with Jesus in our hearts, valuing compassion and support over wealth.
Without fail, people who have endeavored to do this daily have been noticed to be:
- Less envious of wealthy individuals.
- More open to experience.
- More conscientious.
- More extroverted.
- Less obsessive.
- Not likely to engage in destructive interpersonal behavior.
- More open to charity and volunteering.
3. Christ Is Calling You Today
Are you ready for Christ to sow the seeds of gratitude in your heart that incubates envy?
Do you long to “be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Commit your most envious thoughts to Him in prayer, and watch Him whisk them away!
INSPIRATION
1. What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus
2. The Lost Art of Thinking by Neil Nedley M.D
3. Character, Strengths, and Virtues by Christopher Peterson & Martin E. P. Seligman
4. King James Bible
