Envy is also identified as one of the "Seven Deadly Sins". Envy begins with desire and quickly goes the wrong way.
Envy is not only desire for something someone else has, it also includes contempt for the person who has what you desire. Envy can be deadly because it can lead to something much worse.
In the book, "Not the Way it's Supposed to Be: a Breviary of Sin" by Neal Plantinga he retells a story of a woman who envied another woman so much that it led to murder. She murdered the woman and the man she wanted from the woman. Granted, this is a very extreme example of how envy can go wrong, but a real life example nonetheless.
On the other hand, kindness is a desire we can cultivate in opposition to envy. Kindness wants the very best for the other. Kindness is even willing to sacrifice to see another's needs met, and celebrates with the other in their happiness.
So what about you?
Are you envious of anyone? Are you allowing that envy to poison your soul? If so, you can do something about it. You can pray that God will develop in you a kindness that seeks what is best for others and not just yourself. You can choose to bless rather than curse, and in so doing you can be a light in a world that often seems very dark.
These are my thoughts, so what about yours? I invite you to share your thoughts as we journey together along the Way ...
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