The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy

Envy: Remove the Rot. Grab Hold of Love & Gratitude.

Proverbs 14:30, 1 Samuel 18

Proverbs 14:30

“A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.” 

Envy 

• begins with – what someone else has and/or what you do not have.
• triggers – what someone else has, while not being content with what you do have.
• moves to – negative feelings that fester and grow
• culminates in – the space where we not only want what someone else has, but we hope for (and maybe take satisfaction in) their setback or loss of something.  

the Rot.

it results in bitterness that turns to full blown envy.

1 Samuel 18: 1-16 

Have you ever mistaken a friend for an enemy?  

1 Samuel 18:17-30

An envier feels bitter not just because the other person is better or has more… but because they have a feeling of lack, or inferiority.

When we envy, we want what has given to someone else.

Remove the Rot.

Can you think of a time you took your frustrations out on a person, when it was really God who you were angry with?

The Remedy to Envy…Love and

Envy deeply affects our ability to love God and others, as God intends us to do.  

Envy directly opposes love.

of Love & Gratitude.

• When you love, you in another person’s good or success.  
• When we love God, we are . 
• When we love , we want their best. 
• When we love, we experience – regardless of our circumstances.

When we recognize our – we don’t need to feel inferior or threatened by the good fortune of others.

Overcoming envy requires acknowledging our deep need for unconditional love and… recognizing the source of unconditional love.

Romans 5:8

Our spiritual worth is found in our relationship with Jesus, which can free us of any and all vices.

This love we receive frees us to love others and to Remove the Rot of envy.

of Gratitude

Psalm 34:1-3 

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.”

Psalm 100 (A psalm of thanksgiving)

Gratitude: a space to appreciate what we have, and also appreciating what others have.

• We can choose to remove the rot of envy. 
• We can practice replacing it with gratitude.  
• Which reminds us of how much we are loved, and brings contentment.

Matthew 6:21, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be.”

Remove the Rot. Grab Hold of Love & Gratitude.