ENVY, JEALOUSY, AND COVETOUSNESS
Background
Envy, jealousy, and covetousness are interrelated evils. Discontent with our position and possessions often indicates a self-centered attitude which leads to intolerant, resentful, and even malicious feelings toward a real or imagined rival. We may covet the success, personality, material possessions, good looks, or position of another. Then, in order to compensate for a frustrated ego, we make unkind and destructive remarks and submerge ourselves in self-pity, anger, bitterness, and depression.
Cain envied Abel because Abel's offering was accepted by God while Cain's was not. He became jealous, coveting what had been denied him (Genesis 4:3–8). Anger, bitterness, depression, and murder followed: "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:16, NIV).
Envy and jealous ambition motivated Lucifer to rebel against God: "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13–14, NIV).
Billy Graham writes: "You cannot have a full-orbed personality and harbor envy in your heart. We are told in Proverbs 14:30, 'A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.' Envy is not a defensive weapon; it is an offensive instrument used in spiritual ambush. It wounds for the sake of wounding and hurts for the sake of hurting."
The apostle Paul gives the all-time antidote to the sins of envy, jealousy, and covetousness: "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:12–13, NIV).
Helping Strategy For the Non-Christian:
1. If you detect envy, jealousy, or covetousness in the inquirer, carefully but