Envy & Jealousy

The problem of envy

Envy is an especially big problem in life, both for believers and non-believers. This is one bad sin, and so we need to take a closer look at the problem of envy.

Envy draws you away from God - John 5:44

Envy makes you miserable- Proverbs 14:30

Envy leads to other sins - James 3:16

Envy can keep you out of heaven- Galatians 5:19-21

Envy is ultimately destructive- Job 5:2

Understanding envy

So what exactly is envy? We've seen that envy is a big problem, but we need to take some time to really understand this sin before we can learn how to deal with it in our lives.

Envy and jealousy

Proverb 27: 4 says, "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?"

First of all, let's talk about the difference between envy and jealousy. Envy and jealousy are similar, and the words are often used interchangeably. And yet there is still a subtle difference between the two. Envy is desiring something that someone else has. Jealousy is not wanting someone else to have what you have. Envy says, "I want what you've got!" Jealousy says, "Don't touch what I've got!" Envy is marked by covetousness. Jealousy is marked by possessiveness. Envy makes you resentful. Jealousy makes you territorial.

Envy is when I want to play piano as good as you. Jealousy is when I don't want you to play piano as good as me. Envy is when you wish you had a husband like your friend's husband. Jealousy is when you don't want anyone messing with your husband. As such, jealousy is a powerful emotion.

James 3:14-16 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Is God always fair? Of course, He is. Then why are we envious when somebody else receives a blessing? Why do we become depressed when that other woman gets married, or has a baby, or our co-worker gets promoted, or someone gets a new car, or that other family moves into a beautiful new home? Why are we encouraged, yet also strangely discouraged, when we hear reports of a great revival in another church? It stems from envy and jealousy. Subconsciously, we believe that the blessing of others is a sign of God's greater love for them. We are like Cain. We are failing to see the mercy and love of God in our own lives.

You and I have my struggles with envy and jealousy. Our only hope is Jesus. His strength is perfected in me when we daily acknowledge our weakness.