About Envy

Here is an article I copied from Kerygma Mailing List this morning:

When others are blessed, we’re likely to be jealous, unconsciously thinking that they’re getting something that could possibly be ours. For example, when someone gets a promotion at work, instead of rejoicing with that person, you’ll hear others say that corporate patronage was behind the move.

But God’s blessing is for all. It’s like the Niagara Falls with its mighty water rushing to the bottom. The water travels upstream first before it flows downstream but it eventually reaches its destination. Its falls generates so much mist that it projects a number of rainbows. Like the waters of Niagara, God’s blessings may seem to reach others first.

We just have to stay thankful and faithful even as we persevere in claiming His promises. And just as the rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with His people (Genesis 3), He is faithful in keeping His promises to us.

Reflection: Do you always feel that the neighbour next door or your co-worker is being blessed more often than you?

Pray: Lord, give me a thankful heart that I may realize that You always provide for what I need.

Envy is a horrible sin. Saul envies the success of David even though it is obvious to everyone that his success was due to the hand of God achieving victory over Goliath.

Francis of Assisi gives us something to consider about envy when he says he thinks it is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Why?

He sees envy as the direct refusal of a person to rejoice in the way the Holy Spirit has chosen to work through another person.

This has been happening to me lately. I must be honest that sometimes I secretly jealous / envy towards some of my friends who seem richly blessed and already got good things that I have been wishing for since a long time ago… I failed to recognize God’s great blessings in my life and my family. I repent for that…

Thank You for correcting me God…
I’m not a sin’s servant anymore.
I want to keep walking in Your path and keep the freedom You have given me…