"My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psa 73:2,3).Many people have slipped and actually gone to the very pit of hell because of envy. "They envied Moses... and Aaron... the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram... They went down alive into the pit (Sheol)" (Psa 106:16,17; Num 16:33). In other words, envious people are useless not only for heaven but also for the earth.
"The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph" (Acts 7:9). So when we have envy we are practically selling our Joseph, Jesus. We are delivering Him up to be crucified. "The chief priests had delivered Him for envy" (Mk 15:10).
"The Jews which believed not, moved with envy..., gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar" (Acts 17:5). When we are moved with envy we destroy God's work and become troublemakers. Having lost our faith, we try to destroy the faith of others too. But look at the good example of Jesus - He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater things than these shall he do" (Jn 14:12). Jesus wanted His disciples to become more useful and do greater things than He did. If Jesus the Almighty God wanted to raise the man He created from the dust to such a level, how much we need to rejoice and praise God when others, particularly our juniors are respected or blessed more than us!
Look at the beautiful spirit of St.Paul: "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ" (I Cor 1:4). It is easy to thank God for the grace we ourselves have received. But it requires great grace and humility to thank God always for the grace given to others.
Dear child of God, examine yourself and see whether the abominable wicked spirit of envy is working in your spirit.
- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"
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