Love... Does NOT Envy

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16 (NIV)

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who is able to stand before envy?

Proverbs 27:4 (KJV)

The insidious weed we call “envy” stems from a lack of appreciation. Christians who envy are dissatisfied with the garden (life) God gave them to tend. 

They covet “flowers” in other gardens (looks, wealth, jobs, achievements, or possessions). They lust with their eyes. Their hearts get diseased. They compare, desire, and grow resentful.

Some enviers scheme to get what they want, using: 

Lies, tricks, theft, bribes, favors, and seduction: bad actions that harm themselves and others.

But the One most betrayed is the Lord God: How?

  • Christians who envy refuse to believe that He has their best interest at heart.

  • They’re unwilling to wait on their “plants” (gifts) to grow into lovely flowers (outcomes). 

  • Stubbornly, they continue to believe the “Grass is Greener” in other yards (lives).

  • They attempt to win “Best In Show” (lifestyles), without realizing God is the Judge.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

If seeds of envy sprout up within you… as you walk through the fields of Media (comparing your path to those of others, thinking their journey is “better” than yours)... 

Stop! Find those stinking, stinging, stubborn weeds. Pull them up by the root and stomp them dead.

How?

Dig deep in God’s Word and into prayer. Make a habit of counting your blessings. Water and tend to your own garden of gifts. Seek and find ways to nourish your talents, and don’t keep staring at other gardens.

Love… Does NOT Envy (Part 12)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.

WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban