"Beyond Envy"

DAY #31 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:26 NASB

NIV - "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
KJV - "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
NLT - "Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another."
MSG - "...That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."

Envy is the 'green-eyed monster' that creeps up in all of us at one time or another. I can say that it doesn't creep up in me very often though, as I do not allow myself to become envious or jealous of others or their things very often. I might think it would be nice to have... say a new home, or something. But I don't envy or covet what other's have.

Envy by definition is (according to dictionary.com);
–noun

1. a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
2. an object of envious feeling: Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.
3. Obsolete . ill will.

enviousness. Envy and jealousy are very close in meaning. Envy denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another: to feel envy when a friend inherits a fortune. Jealousy, on the other hand, denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves: to feel jealousy when a coworker receives a promotion. Jealousy also refers to anguish caused by fear of unfaithfulness. 4. resent. Envy, begrudge, covet refer to one's attitude toward the possessions or attainments of others. To envy is to feel resentful and unhappy because someone else possesses, or has achieved, what one wishes oneself to possess, or to have achieved: to envy the wealthy, a woman's beauty, an honest man's reputation. To begrudge is to be unwilling that another should have the possessions, honors, or credit that person deserves: to begrudge a man a reward for heroism. To covet is to long jealously to possess what someone else possesses: I covet your silverware.

Because we are all human, we do have the opportunities present themselves, where we do become envious or jealous of one another. However, we should not be living our lives as a 'show' boasting to others what we have, or what we can do, etc. We need not make others envious of us. We shouldn't 'challenge one another', as this verse in Galatians says. We must guard ourselves against boastfulness, and guard ourselves against envy, jealousy and covetness. We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord, and all have a part in His inheritance and grace. (If we believe in Jesus)

Envy itself is a sin, and if you get entangled in it, you will allow satan to get a foothold into your life, and that will bring on more problems. It's okay to love the colour green yet not the 'green-eyed monster'. Green should resemble the colour of life, not death. If you allow envy in, it will lead you to a slow grave of bitterness and more. SO CHOOSE LIFE! Count your own blessings, and wait on the Lord to bring you the desires of your heart. Remember, never be a 2nd rate someone, be a 1st rate YOU!

Be blessed and be a blessing!