Reg Killingley asks us if we ever experience envy, whether envying intelligence, good looks, accomplishments, wealth, etc.  Envy could be defined as a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage possessed by another which we desire ardently. It is related to, but not identical to, jealousy, which takes on a degree of hostility or intolerance. Saul expressed jealousy at David's success eclipsing his own.  Envy is always bad, but jealousy is not always bad.  God has been characterized as a jealous God, not willing to share our allegiance to another god or idol, and He demands unwavering loyalty. Cain, having had an exaggerated sense of entitlement, developed an intense hateful envy toward his younger brother when God showed favor upon Abel's offering, but not his. Joseph's older brothers had a similar kind of envy because they concluded that their father Jacob loved him more than them. The resentment and envy led to selling Joseph into slavery. Envy violates several of the commandments including coveting, giving false witness, stealing, and murder. The antidote to envy is to not be puffed up, but consuming the bread of affliction with sincerity and truth. No place is left for any pride before God. Any ability we have is a gift from God. We need to recognize that others are important in God's eyes.  We are all part of Christ's body, and all are given different gifts and responsibilities to edify one another.  If we have God's love, we will envy no one, nor will we be puffed up.

Advertising and envy * Ahab and Jezebel * Antidote to envy * Bread of affliction * Cain * David and Saul * Days of  unleavened bread * Debt * Destroying reputations * Discerning the Lord's body * "Don't be so humble; you're not that great." * Elijah's challenge * Envy * Exodus 19:3; 20: 1-17 * Exotic trip * Favoritism * I Corinthians 1:26; 5:8; 12:1-26; 13:4 * I Samuel 18:6-8 * Genesis 4:1; 37 * God's possessiveness of His people * Golda Meir * Insecure people * Jealousy * Lying * Matthew 27 * Naboth * Painful or resentful awareness possessed by another * Paul's Pascal letter * Pontius * Proper kind of jealousy * Saul * Sense of entitlement * Sons of Belial * Venn Diagrams * Wysiwyg