Metropolitan Gleanings

Works of the Flesh, Part 11: “Envyings” (Galatians 5:21)

by  •  • Comments Off on Works of the Flesh, Part 11: “Envyings” (Galatians 5:21)

Portrait of a Woman Suffering from Obsessive Envy

Portrait of a Woman Suffering from Obsessive Envy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gal 5:19-21 (KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Works of the Flesh Part 11: “Envyings”

Envy is an emotion that begins early in life. Children argue over what belongs to them, and sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel. One of the earliest examples of envy occurred in Heaven, when Satan wanted to “be like the Most High God.” Envy ended badly for the devil and it will end badly for all who embrace it. Envy is a sin, and we are warned against it because it, and creates division within any unit that should function as a whole (family, organization, nation). Note that Galatians 5:21 presents envy in its pleural form: envyings. This implies that one does not envy once, but rather, envy is a habit that is indulged many times.

Because it is divisive, envy is counterproductive. As we look further into exactly what envy is, we discover that it is perniciously destructive, capable of stealing our peace while stunting our growth in Christ and precluding us from being fully useful members within the body of Christ. Perhaps the worst part of envy is what it does to the one who is envious: It defiles, withers, spoils, ruins and creates depravity.

According to Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (STGHD), the word that is translated “envy” in Galatians 5:21 has a root meaning in another word phtheirō (Phonetic Pronunciation:fthi’-ro) which means (you guessed it): corrupt, corruption, corruptible, defile, defilement, destroy, destroyer, destruction, destructive. Further more, the original concept of envy includes: “(to pine or waste); properly to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (genitive) to ruin (especially figurative by moral influences, to deprave) :- corrupt (self), defile, destroy (STGHD).

It may feel good to envy what someone else has, but that sensation is fleeting. Whatever temporary pleasure comes with jealousy is a perverse pleasure in projecting destruction upon the one who has what we want. Envy cuts both ways. The one who has a lifestyle of envy becomes self corrupted, defiled and destroyed. Envy is vampiric. It siphons away the energy of the inner man. Like a fruit that has gone bad, the soul of the envious person shrivels, withers, spoils, becomes ruined and rots away. This is why we are told again and again to avoid envy. Long story short: envy should be avoided because it is a sin, and all sin is deadly. The Bible is filled with the stories of men and women whose lives were ruined by envy: Cain, Potifer’s wife, Saul, Haman, Judas, Simon the sorcerer, and the list goes on. Is your name on that list?

Reflection: Knowing that envy is wrong, yet being aware that the world cultivates and rewards envy, what then is my prayer?

My prayer is this: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the many ways that I have not been grateful for what you have given me. Help me Lord, to be content with what I have, but most of all, teach me to love you more than anyone or anything. For when You are sovereign in my life, and my love for You is greatest, then am I able to rightly love my neighbor. Be glorified in my thinking, including my emotions, that the works of the flesh be far from me. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Until next time: Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!

Your friend in Christ,

Verneda

Twitter handle: @vlights

© 2012 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta