Envy is a cruel disease and a sin condemned by the Bible. Reading this article will help you understand why envy is a grave sin. I hope you will find the information you need and have an enjoyable reading time. Living in society, we envy and are envied. We should ask ourselves if envy is a sin in the Bible. Envy arises when we meet someone more gifted than us, who is higher in the social hierarchy or possesses particular possessions that we only envy.
What does God say about envy in the Bible?
The mechanism of its appearance in the soul is simple: seeing a man doing well, the envious first wishes the same for himself, but when he realizes that this dream is unattainable, he ends up hurting himself out of selfishness and boundless self-confidence. The envious cannot bear the good done by the one he envies because it would spoil his apparent superiority.
In the Bible, envy is presented as one of the greatest sins. And at the same time, disease of the mind and rust of the heart, to envy another because of his virtues and happiness. That is, to hate in him one’s own merits or divine gifts, to turn another’s good into one’s evil, to be tormented by the prosperity of the more fortunate, to make trouble for himself by the glory of others, to feel his heart torn as by the executioner’s hooks, to make his thoughts and feelings a kind of instrument of torture, to pull his heart, to torment him to the core.
What causes jealousy and envy?
The other evils have an end and end with their consummation. In adultery, the villainy ends with the doing of the deed. The robber reaches homicide and stops there. The taking of the prey appeases the greed of the predator. The counterfeiter has as his measure the accomplishment of the counterfeit. Only envy has no limit. It is a permanent evil, a sin without end, and the more successful one has been, the more the envious burns in the flames of his envy.
Is envy a sin in the Bible? Because envy is caused by the hidden and evil desires of the heart. But also by the metaphorical willingness to buy what you don’t need with the money, you don’t have to impress someone you despise. He whose soul is sick with envy finds no pleasure in food or drink. He is constantly sobbing, groaning, and suffering. Day and night, he is tormented and finds no solace.
Envy is the opposite of love. The two cannot coexist. Envy spoils love and kindness. I recently read in an article that the envious only feels good when others suffer. The jealous person rejoices in the failures of others and bitterly resents their successes. He wants to see the good-looking one hated, the rich one poor, and the talented one ungifted. The price paid by the one enslaved by envy is heavy: wildlife, inability to love others, and ungratefulness.
Is envy a sin in Christianity?
An emperor wanted to find out which of the two was worse. The lover of silver or the envious, for neither wants the good of the other. There is no more pernicious passion born in the souls of men than envy. It causes very little annoyance to those around it, but it causes personal harm to the one who is possessed by this uncontrollable urge as rust eats away iron, so envy eats away at the soul of the envious.
Envy is considered to be a cardinal sin. The passion of jealousy does not let the one possessed by it enjoy himself, even on the occasion of the most sumptuous feast nor in the happiest circumstances. It constantly gnaws at his heart and soul like a worm, like a troubled sorrow, because the envious man regards his neighbor’s wealth and success as his misfortune, and when another is preferred, it seems to him that he is unjustly offended.
What are the consequences of envy?
The consequences of envy are as follows:
- destruction of life, the ruination
- nourishment of earthly beings, the hostility of God’s gifts
- repugnance to God leading to spiritual death
Let us flee from this insupportable sin. Envy is the serpent’s teaching, the spawn of demons, the seed of the enemy, the harbinger of hell, the hindrance of godliness, the way to hell, and the denial of the kingdom of heaven.
The envious know one another somewhat by face. Their eyes are dry and dull, their cheeks sullen, their brows furrowed, their souls troubled with passion, unable to judge truly. For them, nothing is worthy of being followed and glorified.
What is the root of envy?
The Saviour Jesus Christ patiently waits for us to turn from sin and embrace a pure life. Often, our conversion occurs not because we have been rebuked or punished but because we have been shown much goodness and honor that we did not deserve. Many people, though more sinful than others, do well, or in other words, receive many gifts from God.
The heart is the true root of nasty things. Is envy a sin in the bible? Envy is the place par excellence of the gestation of all thoughts and states, where virtues are born. But also where passions are locked. All struggles occur in the heart, the deepest floor of the being, which are the most faithful mirror of the soul’s movements. The reciprocal is also true: the purity of the heart shines irresistibly in the eyes and on the faces of the saints. The evil of the heart then ascends to the tongue.
How do I overcome envy in the Bible?
No matter how many shortcomings you face and no matter how much you want what others have. Remember to reflect on all the good things you already have in your life. And give thanks every day to them. You may find that you have more and are happier than you thought; you need to take more time to realize it.
The Bible urges you not to hesitate to ask for God’s guidance if you feel overwhelmed by envy. Acknowledge your weaknesses before Him and ask for His help to free yourself from the negative state you carry.
One of the significant diseases of the soul is the disease of envy. It does great harm to the human soul and is the cause of great unhappiness to others.
“A peaceful heart is the body’s life, but pity [envy] is the rotting of the bones. “
(Proverbs 14:30 – NIV)
Primary Takeaways
- the most effective means of appeasing our neighbor’s envy is self-abasement
- one of the most effective ways to combat envy is to refrain from provoking the envy of our neighbors
- we can get rid of envy decently by expressing it, not with hostility, but with humor and self-irony
God gives you deliverance if you are sincere in your request and seeking. He provides you salvation through the Holy Spirit, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
