Envy's Last Stand - Mandy Brennan
Did you grow up with Patch the Pirate? I surely did! What a great influence on my thinking and life. Every day, I am reminded of a song or storyline from one of his adventures that has moved me to the right way of thinking. One of my favorites was, ‘The Custard’s Last Stand”. It is the story of the Custard family trying to survive the attacks of a bandit determined to break them apart and make sure they would no longer live for the Lord. We have many adversaries, the book of 1 Corinthians tells us (1 Cor. 16:9), and we should be sober and vigilant as we walk through this life (1 Peter 5:8). One of Satan's tools for destroying our effectiveness is to employ the vice of envy.
Never before has the stimuli to encourage envy been so available as they are in our day. Social media, the internet, ease of communication. These are wonderful tools but can be used to incite envy in us if we are not careful.
Envy and jealousy are not the same thing, even though they share some similarities.
The first is that they are both rooted in selfishness. Jealousy also has the element of fear. A few dictionary definitions of jealousy would be: Fiercely protective of one's rights or possessions; showing fear or suspicion of someone's faithfulness in a relationship; intolerant of rivalry. We see here that jealousy is rooted in fear of loss. Loss is real, but we can rest in the promise that perfect love casts out fear, and God shows perfect love to us, does He not?
How, then, does the Bible describe God as jealous? Is it a sin for God to be jealous? I believe that when the Bible describes God as jealous, it is not selfish or a sin because He alone is worthy of our full devotion and faithfulness. Our heavenly Father knows that we can never be satisfied or fulfilled anywhere except with Him. So, He is fiercely protective of us; He doesn't want us to turn from Him or look somewhere else to receive affirmation. He knows it can never satisfy! He wants the best for us, and clinging to Him and glorifying Him will bring us true happiness.
So then, what is envy? Envy is described in the dictionary as, "Discontented feelings and resentful longing aroused by the good fortune of someone else; the feeling that arises when comparing yourself to others; anger and frustration that come from our feelings of inferiority, longing and disapproval" " Envy essentially says, " I deserve better than what I have and I don't want you to have that unless I can have it too".
Envy wants to take another's blessing for themselves. Envy wants others to fail if its host can't succeed. Envy seeks to take what it thinks it deserves. Envy is angry and sad that someone else has something that it wants.
Did you know that envy is never mentioned favorably in the Bible? Just like the word pride, God warns us that envy is destructive and will lead to a downfall. Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Suppose you have been on the receiving end of envy. In that case, you know the pain and destruction that it can cause: friends that suddenly feel like everything is a competition, people that can't rejoice with you because they didn't receive the same blessing, hurt that comes from someone trying to make you look bad to others so that they will look better. Truly, who can stand before envy? Romans tells us to rejoice with them that do rejoice (Romans 12:15), but it's hard to rejoice with someone that you are envious of!
How can we be sure to keep envy from having a space in our hearts and lives?
First, we can realize that every good gift we have comes from God and is a beautiful expression of His love and grace toward us. God does not owe us anything! We deserve death and hell because of our sins, and if all God ever gives us is His forgiveness… we have been blessed beyond measure! If we are honest, we will acknowledge that God has given us so much more than that in this life and the promise of a home with Him in heaven when this life is done. How can we cease to praise Him?!
Second, gratitude produces gratitude, and complaining produces discontent. Are you going to choose gratitude today, or are you going to complain about every single detail that does not fit your preferences? This is so convicting to me, as complaining comes so naturally to my selfish heart. Gratitude is like a delicate rose that must be gently cultivated. Intentionally encouraged. Start today by thanking God for His gifts. Thanking your husband for his efforts. Thanking your children for their attempts. Thanking your friends and co-laborers for their help, support, and work. Discontent comes to the heart that thinks more highly of itself than it ought to think! (Romans 12:3) Dear reader, we are all just sinners saved by grace!
II Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Third, when envy begins to rear its ugly head in your heart, pause and remember that our God is just, and the Bible tells us in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 35:11) that God rewards people according to their envy. Your envious thoughts do not go unnoticed by God. Joseph knew about envy (Acts 7:9), Jesus knew about envy (Matthew 27:18), the apostle Paul knew about envy (Acts 13:45), and the book of James tells us that where envy is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). Do not be deceived! God is not mocked! Don't think your envy can slip through the cracks with God.
Confess those feelings of envy toward another. Don't forget the wonderful goodness God has poured into your own life. Don't be ignorant of Satan's devices of discontent and entitlement. Let envy have its last stand in you today! Don't let your life be wrecked because you whined and pouted about all you don't have and all you think you deserve. Don't be a carnal lady (1 Cor. 3:3); walk honestly in the light of the gospel and its bountiful provision in your own life! Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men.