LOST RIVER CHURCH OF CHRIST

Seven Deadly Sins: Envy

by Lawrence Kelley

All sin is deadly but the two I've saved for last are exceptional. All sin damages our relationship with God, but pride and envy possess a destructive power that wrecks havoc in the lives and communities of those where it takes root like nothing else. Justification for such a claim comes from both the experience and teaching of Jesus Himself. The pharisees knew how to keep a clean white shirt looking nice and tidy, while yet rolling around in the filth of pride and envy which was rampant in their ranks. What did Jesus warn them about? The drunks and harlots will enter the kingdom before you! He didn't say this just to get a dig in at his adversaries; He said this because it was true.

Envy is like covetousness, with a wicked twist. Whereas the covetous man wants what another man has, the envious man wants the other person ruined. To covet is to want what another person has enough to steal it, to envy is to resent what another person has so badly that we are tempted to destroy it or them. In Dante's Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire, because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low.

The first thing we need to know about envy is that while we can smell it from a mile away in someone else, we can rarely detect, even a hint of it, in ourselves. Here are some questions to ponder: When was the last time you attributed any of your sorry behavior to envy and petty jealousy? Have you ever seriously acknowledged this? Have you ever specifically asked God or a brother's forgiveness for committing this sin in regards to a specific incident?

In plain language the Bible tells us that at the root of most quarrels and disturbances in churches, families and other human associations is envy (James 3:13-4:6). Here we are told that the root is desire or want. Do you take notice of how much money other people make? Then look for trouble. Do you envy the good fortune of others? Then expect to find fault with them. Do you resent that you have comparatively little, or less than you deserve? Then James tells us that the root of the quarrel is already within you, whatever the occasion for the quarrel might happen to be. We do not know what day will be chosen to have the root spring up, but it will do so. This passages explains what is often mystifying to the observer of fights and quarrels. Sometimes the envy is easily apparent, but on those occasions where it is not lying on the surface we should remember the diagnosis of James and understand that somewhere under all the whitewash is seething envy.

James isn't alone in this. A considerable amount of ink is used in scripture to illustrate envy's hellish work. Consider the following examples, and as we do, keep a running tab of the common thread that provokes envy in each instance.

Cain & Able - In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast (Gen 4:3-5). By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings (Heb 11:4). For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous (1 John 3:11-12). Able acted in faith and Cain did not. Able received a blessing from God and Cain did not. In short, Able was in a right relationship with God and this provoked Cain to envy.

Joseph - Gen 37:11 tells us plainly that Joseph's brothers envied him. The reasons why are in the text. First, he was Jacob's favorite son. Second, though youngest, he had been given authority over his brothers. Third, God had shown him in dreams, that his brothers would some day bow down to the earth before him. Because of their envy they plotted to kill him, but in the end were persuaded to sell him for a slave. Perhaps most telling in the story is their haste to strip him of his colorful coat - the symbol of his superior stature among them. This is envy laid bare. They didn't just want a coat for themselves, they wanted Joseph to be coatless.

Jesus - The Jews were unable to conceal their true motive in seeking the death penalty for Jesus. Mark 15:10 says that Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. Jesus had developed a significant following. He had repeatedly bested them in public debate. His love, mercy and relationship with the Father was obviously superior to their own and they burned w/ murderous envy. This example is particularly important because it puts the lie to the common sentiment that envy always has a hint of justification. Jesus was both sinless and humble. He was in no way responsible for the hatred and jealousy directed toward him. The sin of envy is owned by the envious alone.

Paul - When Paul preached in Antioch, the local authorities saw the large multitude that showed up to hear Paul preach and they were filled with envy (Acts 13:45). The same thing happened in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5). Not only were Jewish leaders afflicted with it, so were Christian preachers (Phil. 1:15). In the middle of a difficult church problem, it is frequently said, "I wish the Lord or one of His apostles were here to sort this thing out." If we are paying any attention to scripture at all, we would realize that in ninety percent of the cases we deal with, the presence of the Lord or an apostle would not help at all and would likely inflame the situation even more. It was the O.T. church that crucified Jesus and the N.T. church that fought like crazy to silence Paul. When envy is the problem, the presence of wisdom, holiness and authority only inflame the hearts infected by it.

The common thread running through these stories is that the thing that is envied is the blessing of God upon superior spiritual virtues. Able, Joseph, Moses, Paul and Jesus were envied, not because they were arrogant and boastful. They all walked humbly before God in faith and God accepted them. More than anything, the ungodly want to see those living under the blessing of God, lose it. Since they have no means of actually destroying the relationship between God and the godly, they strike at the life of the godly itself.

Because this theme is so prominent in scripture, we should not be surprised to see it in the church today. The more godly a man, the more fruitful his ministry, the more the lord blesses his labor, the more we should expect to see him criticized, accused and in a word, envied. Now the envious Christian can't take away his brother's money, houses or cars, but he can go after something even more valuable - his reputation. For various reasons some can't be a preacher, elder, teacher or respected influence in the church, but they can undermine the influence of those who are over them in the Lord. Another can't seem to get it together and live as godly or holy a life, but he can mock the maturity of his spiritual betters. On and on we could go, and in the average local church we do. Because of this Paul warns Timothy about those with an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction. He admonishes him to withdraw himself from such people (1 Tim 6:4-5).

This theme is so pervasive that one might despair that envy can ever be overcome. But there are instances of this as well. The finest example is Jonathan, the heir to Israel's throne who perceived that David was his superior and that God had blessed David in greater measure than himself. His response was to gladly acknowledge this and lend David his whole hearted support. This was not because Jonathan was a quivering coward, he was a warrior and a leader, but above that he was determined to accept God's choice for king and take pleasure in David's greatness.

The inaugural address at a Bible college put it well. "Don't envy the ease with which your classmate memorizes the presidents, or covet her looks, or brains. Rejoice for her. She is your sister. Don't covet your friend's car, or money, or girl friend, or wife. Don't want, don't grasp, don't desire, don't get a case of the gimmes. The sovereign God, who alone is wise God, has apportioned this world's resources, and the fact that He did not bequeath to you stunning good looks, the young man/woman of your dreams, and a katrillion dollars was apparently not an oversight. Be content and give thanks."

Conclusion: Because of Cain, Able was cut off and yet the world is full of his descendants. Those who trust in the blood sacrifice to atone for their sins are true children of Able. Cain's descendants are also numerous. They are the ones that will not have on their hands the blood of the one sacrifice that can truly deal with sin, every sin, including our own envious hearts. As a result they will have the blood of their brother's always on their hands.

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