Envy – One of the seven deadly sins.
To be filled with envy is to be filled with a jealousy of what others may have that you do not have. However, in Godly terms to be envious of others is really to be unhappy with what God has given to you and to be unhappy with the destiny that God has laid out for you, wanting the possesions and destiny of others instead. In short, it is basically a slap in the face to God.
James 3:14 “But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.” It is interesting that the words “bitter envy“ are used in this scripture.
Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Envy becomes bitterness inside of you, and will spring up and grow to a proportion where you are not able to control it. The bitterness cause by envy will defile you and destroy you.
James 3:16 “For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.” Envy removes you from the path that God has created for you. Being removed from your personal path removes the direction in your life and confusion sets in. It is like following a map in a foreign city, and half way to the destination, you lose the map. When you are trying to follow the path that God has set for someone else, thinking that it is a better path than the one God has set for you, you open yourself up to demonic activity by removing yourself from the covering grace of God’s will for you. With the bitterness that springs up, comes destruction in the form of evil.
1Corinthians 3:3 “For you are still carnal. For where there are envy,strife and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men.” Being filled with envy removes you from being a spiritual being through Christ Jesus, and returns you to the flesh. The works of the flesh as set out in Galations 5:19 are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkeness, revelries, and the like.
Envy removes you from the will of God and places you outside of the will of God, into a place frequented by all types of evil, against which you then have no form of defence. From envy comes destruction. Overcome envy, knowing that God has the perfect plan for your life, and has all good things planned for you.
Back to Seven Deadly Sins.
