MY BLOGS

As a young married woman, I fell into the trap of envy. It started with comparing my personal life to my college friends’. It spilled over into my workplace. I compared my career progress with my colleagues. It wasn’t a good idea!

Others seemed always one step ahead every aspect of life. They outshined me in positions and possessions. Opportunities seemed to be elusive. I resented their career successes especially my younger colleagues receiving the promotion earmarked for me.

I became dissatisfied with my family and my circumstances. I felt inferior and insecure. To feel better I sometimes regressed to cynicism and character assassination. I cried unfairness and injustice to disguise my sour grapes. Guilt followed. Sadness overwhelmed me and inevitably impacted my social life. Loneliness became my friend. All tallied up to anxiousness, depression, and increased physical pain.

Maybe you struggle with Social Media−it’s all glamour and good. Have you noticed people rarely flood Social Media when life bottoms out? Social “Media-nites” love to focus on bright, beautiful, bigger and better. Trendy clothes, dream homes, luxury cars, exotic travels and even their kids are much smarter than yours. Our lives would be complete if we only had what they have.

What do we learn about envy from Scripture?

Jesus says envy is an issue of the heart− mind, soul, and spirit (1). It’s a deep-rooted issue that sprouts from the way we think, reason, and understand.

The Apostle Paul says, envy is a result of the desires of our sinful nature. And anyone living that way will not inherit the eternal life (2). The Apostle John explains more about our sinful desires. (3). He talks about “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes” pulling us away from God. That sounds serious and thought provoking.

The Apostle Peter says get rid of envy! (4). The Author of Hebrews chimes in to get rid of the sin that entangles and hinders us (5).

How then do we get rid of envy?

It’s important to own your envy, in order to do something about it. Acknowledge you have an issue – only then you can start making changes.

Let’s settle the heart issue. Bringing our hearts in the right relationship with our Creator will pivot us on a path of spiritual growth. It will help us to align our desires with God’s.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Colosse, he says that we have died with Christ. Jesus has set us free from the spiritual powers of this world (6). We are no longer slaves of sin (7) (8). It’s a choice to live and walk by the Holy Spirit and not become envious (9).

Has the above-mentioned knowledge settled inside of your soul and your heart? Or is it mere mind knowledge? Have you quieted your spirit and soul long enough to marvel in God’s presence? Or being overwhelmed with the miracle of His grace. Dare to taste the freedom in Christ!

Then friend, the next time the comparison thoughts tumble into your mind, take captive the thoughts and bring it to Christ. Sometimes it’s just good enough to call upon his name in the moment.

Stop comparing with others. Compare yourself with yourself, be the best you that God created you to be.

Enjoy the bright moments in your own life, the blessings that God so gently pours in our lives.

Practice gratitude. Develops an attitude of gratitude. Learn the secret of contentment and gratitude.

To summarize the short and the sweet. Remember comparing yourself to others’ positions and possessions brings pain. Envy has damaging impacts on your spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Make a choice to believe in the freedom in Christ and trust God to help you overcome the negativity that feeds the humiliation, resentment, anxiety, and depression.

Again, a reminder to reach out to a qualified professional to assist with your emotional healing. I would love to hear how you’re faring in this “new normal” of our current circumstances. May God bless you and keep you.

Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Until next time!

Anita Beukman

Your Hope Coach

  1. Mark 7: 20 – 23 “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thought, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

  2. Galatians 65: 19 – 21 “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealously, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

  3. 1 John 2: 15 – 17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world−the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life−comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

  4. 1 Peter 2:1 “Therefore, rid yourself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”

  5. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

  6. Colossians 2:20 “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world …”

  7. Romans 6: 6 – 7 “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ were set free from the power of sin.”

  8. Romans 6: 14 “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

  9. Galatians 5: 25 – 26 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”