The 7 Deadly Sins Part 4: Envy
Proverbs 27:3-4 KJVS
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. [4] Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Many may look at anger and wrath as being much more powerful than envy. However, envy can actually become more damaging. Why do you think that is? To further meditate on this, let’s look at the Strong’s definition of envy as well as dictionary.com’s definition.
Strong's Number
H7065
Original Word
קנא
Transliterated Word
qânâ'
Phonetic Spelling
kaw-naw'
Parts of Speech
Verb
Strong's Definition
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) {zealous} that {is} (in a bad sense) jealous or envious: - (be) envy ({-ious}) be (move {to} provoke to) jealous ({-y}) X {very} (be) zeal (-ous).
Strong's Number
H7068
Original Word
קנאה
Transliterated Word
qin'âh
Phonetic Spelling
kin-aw'
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine
Strong's Definition
From H7065; jealousy or envy: - envy ({-ied}) {jealousy} X {sake} zeal.
a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
an object of such feeling: Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.
Obsolete.
ill will.
verb (used with object), en·vied, en·vy·ing.
to regard (a person or thing) with envy: She envies you for your success.
I envy your writing ability.
He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.
Envy can be used interchangeably in some scriptures with jealousy. As they are closely related but with a slight difference. In short, envy is directed more at the situation or circumstance. While jealousy, is directed more at the person. I can be envious of my brother’s success and want the same success in my life. But I may not hate my brother as much as I hate the fact, that I am not in a similar situation. However, I can become jealous and hate the fact that he was blessed in a way I wasn’t. I can then grow resentment towards him and develop a hatred towards him as a result.
Proverbs 3:31 KJV
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
You may notice that your oppressor may gain many advantages in this world. It’s easier for them to start a business and be successful. It’s easier for them to purchase and maintain land and a home and pass it down to their children. And the list goes on. However, we are taught not to envy our oppressors, understanding that they acquired these things usually through generational wealth. And their ancestors acquired it through rape, murder and deceit. And they maintain it through systemic racism. All of which, The Most High will in due season judge them for. So is it worth it? Would you be willing to do what they have done to acquire what they have? Only to enjoy it for a season and then be destroyed? I think not.
Don’t put your mind and spirit in a place that after witnessing how your oppressor moves and operates, now you want to emulate them because they seem to prosper. When the root of the matter, is that Satan is blessing them because they had to sin to get it.
Proverbs 23:17 KJV
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
It’s easy to look at anyone, need it be your own people or another nation and develop body dysmorphia, economic dysmorphia, you name it! And now you are depressed, bitter, angry etc. Because of what someone else is able to do and accomplish. Envy brings other spirits with it if you continue to let it grow; depression, anger, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, anxiety, covetousness, deception, thievery, the list goes on. Which is why you have to stop your mind from going down a dangerous path and building momentum. You have to stay in the fear of God. And know that he will judge you, if you begin to harbor all of these negative spirits. Aside from any judgment you may receive for any negative words or actions you take.
Isaiah 11:13 KJV
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Even as a people, it is a curse for the Northern Kingdom of Israel to envy the success, talents and merits of the Southern Kingdom of Israel. You can become discontent with coming in second place. You can begin to feel like you are living in someone else’s shadow. But this is also a matter of perception and how you internalize these things. You’re next in line, you’re right there. You’re right next to the number one person. You’re not in last place. You’re still successful. Second is still a place to celebrate.
1 Corinthians 3:3 KJV
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
We can fall into a carnal mindset if we allow envy to overcome us. We can begin to develop emulation; competition and rivalry. It becomes counterproductive to building. You develop strife and become more divided. Forgetting the godly nature you should have.
Romans 1:29 KJV
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
You don’t want to be full of unrighteousness. Full of envy. that means you aren’t purging. You aren’t correcting your spirit. You’re letting that spirit fester. All while attracting more evil spirits that enter into you and dwell in you.
Galatians 5:21 KJV
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Don’t be fooled to think that you can stay in that spirit and still make it into the kingdom. The Most High wants you to repent and change your ways. Remember, you must be renewed in the spirit of your mind. There is a mindset shift that must take place for you to be acceptable to The Most High.
Proverbs 14:30 KJV
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Your mind and spirit work together toward the health of your body. Envy, among other spirits, is a toxic trait. Once in you it will begin to destroy you from the inside out. You can’t keep trash in your spirit and think it won’t eventually begin to cause you to stink. No matter how deep you bury it, it will make its way back to the surface. You won’t get rid of that funk until you decide to take out the trash. And the choice to let it continue to sit there or throw it away is yours to make.
Romans 13:13 KJV
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
