Envy is almost always at the center of problems: problems among siblings, problems among employees, problems among church members. We tend to look around and see God blessing our neighbor only to have the very next thought be something like, “Why am I not blessed like that?” Then, the really crippling thought, “He doesn’t deserve such blessing.” Then, the fatal thought, “I am going to expose the fact that he does not deserve that blessing.”
You may not let yourself think these thoughts so clearly. After all, you are a Christian. You probably disguise your wicked thoughts and dress them up in some form of righteous zeal to make them decent in good company. Your envy probably looks like better theology, a better understanding of the covenant, a more knowing maturity, or even a high-minded tolerance of such simple and sinful creatures.
Please do not fool yourself. If you are anything but blessed by God’s blessing of others, then you are fighting the temptation to envy or you have already succumbed to the sin. God does not have to consult you before He blesses other people. Let Him determine who is worthy of His blessing and then bless God for it. Any other response comes from a heart that needs to be on its knees in confession.
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