wish you had . How can your belief in the gospel — in what you have in Christ — undermine envy ?
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming , but who can stand before jealousy ? ( Proverbs 27:4 )
The evil of envy . This says jealousy can be more harmful than anger . Why ? Envy is wanting someone else ’ s life . But it is not just that . In envy we don ’ t just want other people ’ s lives ; we resent and begrudge them their lives . In praise you recognize people who are better than you and you rejoice in it . But in envy you recognize people who are better off and you burn with bitterness . John Gielgud , the great British actor , in his autobiography said , “ When Sir Laurence Olivier played Hamlet in 1948 and the critics raved , I wept .”
Envy is being unhappy at other people ’ s happiness . Envy weeps because of those who are rejoicing and rejoices if they are weeping . It is the exact opposite of the godly state of mind ( Romans 12:5 ). And the best way to stop it is to look at Jesus , about whom it could be truly said , “ In all their distress he too was distressed ” ( Isaiah 63:9 ).
Is there someone you feel has the life you deserve more ? Is that belief and feeling diminishing your happiness to any degree ? What can you do about it ?
Do not let your heart envy sinners , but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord . There is surely a future hope for you , and your hope will not be cut off . . . . Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the
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