In Psalm 73:2-3, Asaph, a worship leader of God’s people, tells how he nearly came to ruin: “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
We may be tempted to think of envy as a “minor sin,” but it’s perilous. “Envy makes the bones rot” (Proverbs 14:30), and it undermines reverence for God (23:17). Jesus lumps envy in with sins like adultery and murder (Mark 7:21). Those who follow the way of envy “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).
What’s more, envy is pointless—all that energy we pour into craving what is not ours… it’s nothing more than a chasing of the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:4); we gain nothing; it’s a total waste of mental, emotional, and spiritual resources.
Ask yourself: “What’s going on in my heart when I envy that car, that physique, that privilege? What does my envy say to and about God?” It’s this: “God, you messed up by making me me; you blew it by giving those skills to someone else and not me: that musical ability, that way with words, that business savvy… God, you can’t be trusted to take care of your people!” But finding fault with our Maker—with the One who loved us and gave his Son to pay the penalty for our infinite spiritual guilt—is a serious matter. To tell the Lord we know better: very heady stuff!
How much better (for you and me, for those we influence, and for the display of God’s honor) to follow the way of contentment. Do you dare to trust God enough to be at peace as the person you are, and content with what you have? Can you echo Paul the prisoner when he says he’d learned to be content “whatever” his circumstances (Philippians 4:11)? Can you embrace the beautiful truth of Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”? You can trust Jesus in all things!
