Dealing With the Foxes of Envy and Jealousy

UV 1527/10000 Dealing With the Foxes of Envy and Jealousy
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth

James 3 v 14

Someone said, “ Jealousy and envy are a disease that has no medicine.” Scripture says that envy rots the bones. It grows on one like a kind of madness. It is born from selfish ambition and leads to strife and all types of machinations and evils. Jealousy is hating someone for some quality or ability or achievement that one does not have while envy is hating someone for a possession that one does not have. The root of even sibling rivalry is jealousy. Jacob and Rachel were jealous of Esau’s right and blessing as the first born. It led to Rachel instigating Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing by disguising himself as Esau and causing Isaac to bless him as the first born. People who are subjected to envy and jealousy would not hesitate to use any means to bring down those who are the object of their envy.


Joseph was envied by his brothers for the attention and affection that he received from their father Jacob. It led to them plotting to first taking his life and then under some persuasion selling him into slavery. But what his brothers thought for evil God turned into good. Even Aaron and Miriam were envious of Moses’ stature as leader of Israel. Jealousy and envy leads to strife and conflict in relationships. St James describes envy and jealousy as earthly, sensual and devilish. It gives birth to confusion and every evil work. Cain slew his brother Abel out of jealousy. What began as envy ended in the first murder in history. God as our heavenly Father might have given us a multi-coloured coat or many talents or blessings as a gift and this would cause people to envy and plot against us.

We ourselves should be wary of giving room in our hearts for envy and jealousy. We need to catch these two little foxes, tie them tail to tail and set them on fire and squealing into eternity. It is the Lord’s prerogative to decide to give different individuals various gifts or blessings. We should not resent the blessings or gifts of another person. Instead we should be thankful and contented for what we have got and try to do our best with our gifts. When we compare ourselves with others and their lot, it could lead to envy and jealousy. Boasting or showing off also engenders envy and jealousy. The spirit of envy and jealousy led both Haman and Hitler in completely different periods of history to try to destroy the Jews. It was a similar spirit that took control of Jezebel as she sought to destroy the prophet Elijah. King Saul attempted to kill David many times as he was overcome by envy and jealousy against David for his skills, his courage, his popularity and his exploits. The Pharisees were moved with jealousy and envy at the works and words of Jesus such that they plotted to have Him crucified. All these biblical as well as examples from our own lives prove that envy and jealousy should be destroyed before they destroy us.

Prateep V Philip