People often find it easier to acknowledge being envied rather than confessing to their own feelings of envy. This raises an intriguing question: If no one admits to being envious, who is doing the envying?
The answer lies in the shame associated with envy. It’s a hidden emotion, one that lurks deep within – the fear of being exposed. Nothing seems to bring more shame than confessing that someone else’s success stirs resentment, that another’s happiness brings sorrow, or that another’s good health causes anguish.
Envy and covetousness are intertwined, and together they often become a burden for many. Just like a pebble in a shoe, envy first causes discomfort, escalates to pain, and eventually hinders one’s progress entirely. Though the envious may seem to advance, but in truth, their lives are stagnant.
We are responsible for the emotions we nurture within us, and envy often lies at the root of many other problems. Take the case of Wanda Holloway, a mother who became so outraged that her daughter lost the school cheerleading captain competition, that she devised a shocking plan. Her plot was to kill the mother of the winning student, leaving the girl too distraught to continue as captain, allowing her daughter to take the role. The plot failed when Wanda’s former brother-in-law exposed the scheme to the police, leading to her arrest and a 10-year prison sentence.
No one suffers more from envy than the envious themselves. As the saying goes, “you reap what you sow.” Envy opens the door to numerous problems, but the negative energy they harbour ultimately harms the envious person. The Bible teaches:
“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30)
If you’ve recognised envy in your heart, join us this Friday, 20th September, for the fifth week of our Chain of Prayer to Combat and Protect against Envy. Alone, we cannot always overcome certain impulses, but with God’s help, transformation is possible, and we can become new.
Event: Chain of Prayer to Combat and Protect against Envy
Date & Time: Friday, 20th September at 7:30pm (also at 7am, 10am & 3pm)
Location: Your local Universal Church
Sources: https://abc13.com/pom-mom-texas-cheerleader-wanda-holloway-channelview-cheerleading-scandal/1722508/
The Pleasure of Revenge, Bishop Edir Macedo
