Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Envy


1 Peter 2:1-3 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Envy is the tendency to evaluate one’s own well being comparatively to others; and to perceive self lacking while wishing a perceived rival to be deprived of their good fortune.

One of the greatest temptations known to human beings is to tear down another to lift up self. We know this does not work and is evil. The real trouble with envy is that precious time and resources are wasted on injuring one’s rival, when effort should be focused on improving one’s own destiny. Envy says, “God owes me!” What he’s given to another he could have given to me.vCain killed Abel and  Esau threatened to kill Jacob because of envy. In John 21 Jesus told Peter that he would be martyred. Immediately he asked what would happen with John. Jesus replied, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

James 4:1-2 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

Usually our real trouble is not with others. More often we are dealing with our own insecurity and self hatred. It is projected out onto others. Envy believes that I cannot be happy without your cooperation. You must do what I want before I can be happy. This is a very flawed belief system. Our solution is to ask God—James 4:2-3 You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Instead of looking to others to make me happy and fulfilled, we should look to God. Ask God. We ask and do not receive, because we ask after our own lusts and desires. True contentment will be found in seeking God's will for our lives.

There are two passages that will help stamp out envy in our lives. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Philippians 2:1-5 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

Living for God's will and genuinely loving and being interested in the well being of others will destroy the power of envy in our lives.

Peace,

Stan