7 Deadly Sins: Envy ?

Envy, the last of the deadly sins is similar to jealousy. While jealousy is about keeping what you have, Envy is about having something you don't.

This is a step up from pride and jealousy because it causes us to act against someone else in the interest of their "stuff".

Proverbs 14:30

"A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones"

"This isn't fair!"

Often we feel that we are more deserving of God's blessing than those we are envious of - why did God bless such a bad person? But envy never provides satisfaction, even when the other party is suffering (maybe even due to our envious behaviour).

Envy divides people

It breaks down relationships, causing rifts in the church and in our lives with other believers and those who don't believe.

Cain and Abel ??

Cain felt rejected by God. Therefore he felt envious of, and inferior to his brother.

Cain failed to love his brother. Instead, he saw him as a threat and got rid of him. If he loved his brother, he would have been joyful that God found favour on him.

There was also a lack of faith in Cain's heart. His offering of worship was done with the wrong heart. Cain's offering was withholding and un-sacrificial. Cain knew that his offering was unacceptable, but it didn't have to be that way! All he needed to do was love his brother and have faith in God so much that his worship offering would be full and sacrificial.

Envy is a choice! We can choose not to be led by our envious heart. Cain chose to act out of envy, and the result was disastrous. He didn't trust God's way of organising life. He didn't trust God to know when his worship was unacceptable.

Envy destroys others

Saul & David ??

Saul could see in 1 Samuel 18 that everyone loved David. Saul's anger came from the song - that they credited David with more glory than Saul.

And so Saul became a man at war. Obviously with David but also with himself, and with God. Saul sensed that God was with David and so he hated both God and David.

Ironically, as he tries harder to destroy David, he enables David to succeed. With every step he takes he distorts his personality. He destroys himself and breaks his relationships, his character, and his connection with God.

Envy tells us that God's plan is against us. It tells us that it's not fair and we deserve more than God gives us. It blinds us from the fact that God works for our good at all times.

What steps can we take?

Admit it

The cure to our struggles inside is to confess to God that we have a problem

Nail it to the cross

Recognise that Jesus died for those sins that grip your heart. Come to the cross and leave your sin there, forgiven.

Live in the power of Christ

Jesus rose to free us from our sins. His Holy Spirit can free us from the chains of our sins. They give us the power to change and to choose to love instead of act enviously.

Stop fighting God

The reason we are at war with others and ourselves is because we are at war with God - we think He's got it wrong.

God makes us worthy and acceptable, not anything we do. We should stop fighting God and trust His plan is for the best for us. That His love will free us from feeling unworthy and unacceptable.