Love Is...Not Envious

Love Is…Not Envious

Pastor Russell Henderson

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV.

Envy is a very powerful and sometimes dangerous state of mind.  Biblically, the word “envy” means to burn with zeal;  to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, or anger.  It is also a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.  Often the word “envy” is substituted for the word “jealousy”, but it goes much deeper than jealousy.  Jealousy denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves.  Envy, on the other hand, denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another.

The best synonym for “envy” is “covetousness”.   Envy covets the possessions of others to the point of rage and will go to any means necessary to take those things, even if it means trampling over anyone in the way.  An envious person can never contain the love of the Father, and likewise, can never give love to others.  Proverbs 14:30 tells us, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”   Envy will destroy your very life because it is closely associated with hatred and bitterness. 

Envy is so severe that it is listed as one of the main “evils” of the Bible.

For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you." 

(Mark 7:21-23 NLT)

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(Rom 1:29-31 NIV)

Envy is placed in the same list as adultery, theft, and even murder.  Envy is so detestable to God, because the envious person has lost all dependence upon the provision of God.  He no longer trusts God for the things he needs; instead he seeks to acquire possessions through corrupt methods.  According to James 3:14 harboring envy and selfish ambition is a denial of God’s truth, and it will only lead to confusion and evil practices.  Envy is even listed in the Ten Commandments in the form of covetousness.

God is very quick to punish envy, especially when it goes against His direct and delegated authority.

In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked

 (Psalm 106:16-18 NIV)

In Numbers 16 Korah, a Levite, and two Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, along with 250 others became envious of Moses because of the authority that God had delegated to him.  “You have gone too far!”  they declared.  “The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them.  Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” 

You see, they did not understand Moses’ God-given position, and they wanted equal status with Moses.  The Lord answered in verse 31 by causing the earth to split open.  It engulfed Dathan and Abiram along with their families.  The Lord then sent fire and consumed the 250 others.  

God is not tolerant of envy.  His design was always that we rely on Him for all of our provision.  Matthew 6 tells us that when we pray, we should pray for God to provide for our needs.  When we try to acquire the things that we need and even want through worldly means, we have fallen to envy.  The envious mind cannot contain love because he cannot think and reason clearly.  Envy is a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15), but the heart of love rejoices at the success and prosperity of others.

This week examine your heart.  Do you have even a trace of envy towards another?  Make an effort to pray for them and bless them.  Seek to love them through kindness and patience, and learn to be content in the blessings that you have already received.