Have you ever felt a little sick when someone else succeeded?
That’s envy talking. Envy rarely shows itself but prefers to
seethe and boil beneath the surface.
We are warned that envy is no small thing but is spiritual
cancer. Proverbs 14:30 puts it bluntly: “Envy makes the bones
rot.” What a vivid picture of how it drains life from within.
While we may think envy is a harmless, personal struggle
within, it can block growth, damage relationships, and even
lead to sin that destroys.
Cain’s story is a clear example. When God accepted Abel’s
offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain didn’t turn inward for repentance.
He glanced sideways at his brother’s favor, and envy took root. God
counseled him, “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master (Genesis 4:7 NLT).” But Cain opened that door wide. Envy led him to
murder.
Galatians 5:19–21 reminds us that envy is among the “works of the
flesh” that lead to destruction. It’s in the same category as sexual
immorality, idolatry, and hatred, and is not just a shortcoming, but a
serious spiritual issue. And Proverbs 23:17 reminds us of where our eyes should be: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the
Lord.” In other words, don’t envy someone else’s path or success, but
fear the Lord and trust His timing, His favor, and His provision for you.
Pay attention to what you are thinking and feeling.
Envy cannot grow where contentment lives. The antidote is intimacy with God, living as loved, walking obediently by His Spirit, cultivating thankfulness for
your life, and trusting that He sees and rewards rightly.
This was originally published by First Stone Ministries in their Summer 2025 newsletter. For more information about First Stone, you may click through to the site. www.firststone.org
Laura Leigh Chats 