Dealing With Envy

If you’re like me, you sometimes struggle with envy. It’s an ugly sin. Struggling with selfishness or fear sounds less offensive than being envious. Envy is a hard sin to admit out loud, but it’s a common sin for us Christians.

Envy raises its ugly head in my life when I compare myself to others, especially when I compare myself to one lovely person that God has put in my life. This person is the sweetest, kindest person you could ever imagine. If you’re feeling discouraged, you’d want to hang out with this individual. She’d hug you, tell you you’re wonderful, share a Bible verse with you, and then feed you the best cookies you’ve ever eaten. You’d leave her house full of encouragement and sweet treats. You’d smile and feel better about yourself and life.

She’s nice, and that’s the problem. I struggle with being nice. I’m outspoken, quick with an opinion, even pithy. I don’t always come off as nice…

Recently, I asked the Lord to help me be a nice person. He reminded me that being nice wasn’t in the Bible. What I was probably asking for was to be more kind, thoughtful and loving. I also asked God to forgive me for being envious of my dear friend. Her God given gifts are very different from mine. Rather than responding in envy, I can appreciate our differences focusing more on how the Lord wants me to grow in the gifts he’s given me.

If you’re like me, you’ll probably continue to struggle with envy, but God is bigger than our sin. He’s able to not only forgive us, but to change us from the inside out.

Prayer

Lord, Thank you that we can confess all our sins even the ugly ones to you, knowing you’ll forgive us. Thank you for the unique gifts you’ve given to each one of your children. Help us not to compare ourselves to one another, but to be humble and walk under the guidance of your Spirit each day. Amen.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:25-26