What Envy Does

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 14:30

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Not all physical health and illness are distinct from or disconnected from our spiritual and emotional state. While it wouldn’t be right to suggest that any physical ailment has a spiritual cause, it would also be wrong to ignore that possible connection.

As this proverb says, the state of our heart affects the state of our body. If we are in a state of inner chaos, it cannot help but affect our health and how we feel.

One of the root causes of a heart in turmoil is envy. When we don’t know how to properly process other people’s blessings and successes, we create problems for ourselves spiritually and physically.

Learning to rejoice with those who rejoice is not as easy as it sounds. The devil is always ready to whisper in our ears about how unfair it is and how we should have what they have. Our flesh rises up with resentment and bitterness. Contentment evaporates under the intense heat of jealousy.

What does it accomplish? Does it improve our lot? Does it increase our wealth?

Not at all.

It robs us of tranquility and health. Envy is like a spiritual cancer that eats at our hearts. It eventually metastasizes and gets into our body. And we suffer for it.

The wise thing to do is to battle against envy. Confess it as a sin. Seek the help of the Spirit to kill these works of the flesh and to give us the fruit of the Spirit. Learn to rejoice with those who rejoice. To be able to genuinely celebrate others’ blessings is a great gift.

May the Lord grant us that gift. It blesses others and makes our lives better and healthier too.