Previous
Questions and Answers
Why is envy a sin?
Why is envy a sin? I envy but I think with
good reason. I envy those who I feel deep inside have it better than I do and for
that more happier. For instance I live in N.Y.C and when I go downtown to the rich
neighborhoods, everything is decent. I live in the ghetto and it sucks so of course
I envy those that are wealthy and live in those environments. Another example of
envying is when I see guys with girls who I want and just can't get that's where I envy
the most and of course on other stuff. My question is why would this be considered a
sin?
The word “envy” is defined as
“painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined with a
desire to possess the same advantage” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate
Dictionary). That sounds about exactly what you are feeling now, does it not?
As you
notice in the definition, and in your life, the first problem that you are having is that
you are comparing yourself to other people. We all have to fight that problem. The Bible
tells us not to compare ourselves to other people. II Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we
dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend
themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among
themselves, are not wise.”
Comparing
ourselves to other people can hurt us two ways. First, if we compare ourselves to other
people, and think that we are thus “okay,” or “pretty good,” that
could give us a false standard. The people to whom we are comparing ourselves are not
going to judge us one day — God is. God is the standard of what is right and wrong
— not man. Matthew 5:48 says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.” Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God.” God sets the standard — not man. If we compare
ourselves to other people, we might think that we are “pretty good,” but we
might not be prepared to meet God at all
The word
“envy” is found 20 times in 19 verses of the Bible. Let’s see if we can get
an answer to your question from those verses. Proverbs 3:31-35 says, “ENVY THOU NOT
the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the
LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the
house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the
scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame
shall be the promotion of fools.”
We are told not to envy
the “oppressor.” You are envying the wealthy with their nice homes, etc. Are
they “oppressors?” According to the Bible, many times the rich do oppress the
poor. James 2:5-7 says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor
of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that
love him? But ye have despised the poor. DO NOT RICH MEN OPPRESS YOU, and draw you before
the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are
called?” The rich are sometimes quick to talk down at the poor, and to treat them
like dirt. Proverbs 18:23,24 says, “The poor useth entreaties; but THE RICH ANSWERETH
ROUGHLY. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.”
What we
must remember when we see the rich with their nice big homes, and their fancy, new cars,
and all of the other things that money buys; is that all of those things are only
temporary. I Timothy 6:6-10 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For
we brought nothing into this world, and IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING
OUT. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows.”
You cannot
see it many times from the outward perspective, but many of the rich are empty inside.
They are not happy. They are not satisfied. Much of what they have is not even really
theirs. The big fancy home requires huge payments to the bank. The fancy, new car,
requires big payments to the loan company. They may appear to have more, but their big
checks are all gone on pay day.
As far as
the matter of envying guys that are with gals, I would encourage you to look up the
marriage Bible Courses on this Web Site (the first one can be seen at
“http://www.pathwaynet.com/libertyb/biblecrs/marriage/mariage1.htm”. We would be
happy to send you a printed copy, if you will send us your address. You will learn in them
the right way to find a godly wife, without sinning in your heart and mind. You should
only consider courting one girl, the one to whom you are engaged to be married.
One of the
Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:17, is, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.” As you can see from this one commandment
alone, envying and coveting people’s houses, or wives/girlfriends is sin. It is
breaking one of the Ten Commandments.
Jesus died
on the cross to cleanse us from all of our sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.” I Corinthians 15:3,4 says, “For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:” If you have never repented of your sin, and received the Lord Jesus
Christ as your Savior, do it today. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord.”
Previous Questions and Answers
Ask
A Question