Tadd Mencer

I’ve been noticing a struggle in my heart and mind as of late. A great battle between being content and being envious.

Envy is pointed out in many placed in scripture as basically the downfall of a human.

“Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.” Job 5:2
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
“For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ” Mark 7:21-23

So the Bible doesn’t look kindly on the subject of envy. And it’s not a wonder. When you envy things you grow to hate what you have. If you have a new car, and someone has a nicer one - and you envy that and wish it your own - you grow to be discontent with the nice car you have. Being discontent and wishing you have what Joe Schmoe has is a huge downfall!

Not to sound all Yoda, but envy leads to jealousy. Jealousy leads to hate. Hate leads to anger. It’s a downward spiral from there. Depression. Suffering. Violence.

Rather than being envious of what other have I need to be content with what God has granted me. I may not have the highest paying job - but I have one of the best benefit packages! I may not have the best house - but it has possibility and I can work on it without fear of destroying something! I may not have the best car - but at least I’m not taking the bus to work every day!

Envy is the man slayer. I don’t want to be dead inside because I want something that I don’t have.