THE SIN OF ENVY

Friday – September 24, 2021

Posted

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21

For a young college student, Elliott Rodger was hardly deprived of desirable material things. He had a new BMW sports car, nice clothes, $300 Gucci sunglasses, college tuition fully paid for by his parents, and thousands of dollars in spending money.

Elliott suffered from a mild case of Asperger’s syndrome that made it difficult for him to form friendships. His envious heart easily found other outlets, and he never learned either the importance of human gratitude or the self-destructive effects that runaway envy inevitably entails. Malicious envy directed its gaze upon all sorts of desired goods, not just material things: superior musical or athletic ability; a ready wit; physical beauty; healthy children; a prestigious job; a high IQ; or, as in Elliot Rodger’s case, romantic success with pretty women.

In May 2014, Elliott Roger murdered six young people and took his own life because envy had reached its ultimate end.

Envy is an abhorrent sin and one that leads to many other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of envy to the Lord and seek to rejoice in other’s successes as you follow Christ.

“Envy is the diabolical sin.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. – Job 5:2