Remove Every Trace of Envy (Part 1 – Part 2 Below)
“Envy is rottenness to the bones!” Proverbs 14:30b
Many scriptures warn against envy. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” James 3:16 says, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” The 10th Commandment in Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet … anything that is your neighbor’s.” 1 Peter 2:1 (AMPC) says, “So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.” Be done with ALL envy. If those scriptures do not convince you, you can also read several testimonies of jealousy throughout the Bible that are there for your learning (Romans 15:4). Envy can be traced back to the first physical death and murder where Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:3-8). Envy was the reason Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (Acts 7:9). Korah, Dathan, and Abiram died due to their envy of Moses and Aaron (Psalm 106:16-17). Saul and David were enemies because of envy (1 Samuel 18). Barabbas was released instead of Jesus because the chief priests were envious of Jesus (Mark 15:10-11). Paul had to deliver milk instead of meat to the Corinthians due to their envious hearts (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Another form of envy occurs today within the church. I wish I could sing like Darlene, teach like Paul, prophesy like Kenneth, drum like Peter, etc… God is not a liar (Numbers 23:19). Envy rots the bones (Proverbs 14:30). God did not gift these people for you to be envious of them and get arthritis. God also did not gift these people to bless them. He gifted them to edify YOU, the church body! (1 Corinthians 14:12 and Ephesians 4:11-12) However, Satan is attempting to use their God-given gifts against you. Genesis 50:20a says, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” We must stop envying each other’s God-given gifts and instead be edified by them. God’s glory can be seen within the manifestation of those gifts.
“The whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah 6:3b
Many people repeat what Moses asked God in Exodus 33:18, “Please, show me Your glory.” We sing about it and shout it out. However, is the ball in God’s court to show us His glory? If you read Exodus 33, God tells Moses to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. Moses tells God in verse 12a, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me.” God responds back in verse 14b, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” God confirmed it again in verse 17 saying He would go with Moses. Then in verse 18 Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Moses was not just randomly asking God to show him His glory. Moses was coming in agreement with what God had already said. God says, My presence will go with you and Moses comes in alignment with that and says show me Your glory Lord.
In Isaiah 6:3 an angel was singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” If the earth is full of God’s glory, do we need to ask God for it? Why does everyone not see it? Let’s look at a few other verses that explain. Jesus said in John 11:40 that we must believe to see the glory of God. Psalm 17:15 NLT says, “Because I am righteous, I will see you.” We must be righteous, obey God’s Word, to see God. John 14:21 says the same thing, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” If we obey God’s Word, He manifests Himself to us. Hebrews 10:36b says, “After you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” The ball is in our court. Once we submit our lives to Him, seek Him and His Word daily, and obey what He tells us, we will see that God’s glory is already here. We will see His glory in our children, nature, favor with people, timing of situations, in EVERYTHING that we put our hands to do! (Deuteronomy 28:8) If you do not see the glory of God, evaluate yourself!
