Envy

What Does the Bible Say About Envy?

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about envy. While many people see "keeping up with the Joneses" as just a way of life, the Bible warns against coveting, or envying, others. The Bible equates the gravity of envy with murder, adultery and malice. Love drives out envy and enables you to be sincerely happy for the blessings of others. By letting go of envy, you free yourselves to appreciate your own blessings.

Significance:

The Bible speaks out against envy through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:17. In the Ten Commandments, the Bible uses the term "covet," which is a synonym for "envy." Because God identified not envying others as one of the top ten most important laws, God clearly sees envy as being something destructive to your well-being. The Bible helps you to understand why in Proverbs 14:30, which says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Types:

In the Ten Commandments, the Bible elaborates upon the types of envy that you should avoid: "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). To apply this commandment to the present day, you should not envy what other people have, including their houses, cars, wives, bank accounts, status or various possessions.

Identification:

Envy can be found in "keeping up with the Jones." The Bible addresses this form of envy in Ecclesiastes 4:4: "And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Your hard work should be to please God and to help others, which has eternal value: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20). Working hard to keep up appearances is meaningless and does not bring satisfaction or fulfillment.

Effects:

The Bible views envy as being very serious, even equating the gravity of envy with "murder, strife, deceit and malice" (Romans 1:29). The Bible also equates envy with "evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, ... slander, arrogance and folly." (Mark 7:21) The Bible even says that it was out of envy that Jesus was handed over to be crucified (Matthew 27:18). Although many people try to suggest that envy is not a big deal, the Bible clearly says otherwise.

Conclusion:

According to the Bible, envy disappears in the presence of love. I Corinthians 13:4 says that "love ... does not envy." So, when we truly love our neighbors, we stop envying them. Instead of wanting what they have, we become sincerely happy that others have been blessed. By letting go of envy, we can appreciate all of the blessings that God has given us in our own lives.

Resources:

•Seriousness of envy
•Ten Commandments
.The Holy Bible
.Faith Allen