Tuesday February 3, 2015
The Sin of Envy
Proverbs 27:4 Wrath [is]
cruel, and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand before envy?
Envy is a displeasure or trouble arising in a man's
mind from the sight or knowledge of another man's prosperity, and causing a man
to hate such a person, and try to ruin him. Envy commonly arises at the sight
of the prosperity of people you think you are better than. People do not envy
things or persons that are much above them.
Dear reader, never allow the prosperity of another
person to make you unhappy. This is the sin of envy. Do you remember the case
of King Saul, on the occasion of David killing Goliath? King Saul envied David
for killing Goliath and for years he tried to kill him. God finally rejected
King Saul because of this wickedness.
Envious people never agree that they are envious.
They disguise it under a mighty pretended zeal for the truth; or a great love
for the public welfare; or a great concern for the credit of their neighbor.
From this moment decide to live free from envy.
I once read a story of two persons. They were Mr. Covetous
and the other Mr. Envious. Once upon a time a certain rich man promised to
grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. Mr.
covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion,
and Mr. Envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear
the thoughts of how his action will benefit Mr. Covetous. However, at last Mr.
Envious requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that Mr.
Covetous might lose both.
In Proverbs 27:4, the wise man compares envy with
two very bad tempers of man's mind, wrath and anger. He said worse than these,
unkind and demonic, violent and mischievous, is envy.
Sometimes a man's blessings actually inflame the
hearts of the envious. The case of Cain and Abel; of Esau and Jacob; of the
brethren of Joseph; of Saul and David, etc are some examples of envy in the
bible.
Meditation Point
Mere anger is temporary; but envy, like a poisonous
serpent, is ever secretly watching for an opportunity to strike its victim.
Beware of those who envy you for your success, they are very dangerous.
Prayer Point
- Confess every sin of envy in your heart today and ask for cleansing and deliverance in Jesus name
- Ask God to protect you from secret envy of the wicked in Jesus name
Further Reading
Pr 6:34; Song 8:6
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