#1,575: The Sin of Envy

What is envy? A feeling of discontentment or resentment over the opportunities, possessions, or blessings of another. I once heard envy described as the combination of a desire for something, with the resentment that another is enjoying it and you are not.Main Points:1. It’s been my experience that envy is not a sin we readily confess. There is a deception that accompanies envy. We can be envious and not realize it. We can feel envy towards someone and not identify the feelings as sin.2. Envy invites comparison of relationships, success, status, or image.  Envy is consuming, and it doesn’t take long before you lose yourself in the constant and relentless comparisons, all while cultivating bitterness and hatred toward people in your life, sometimes the very people you once loved and appreciated.3. So, how can we protect our hearts from this sin? First and foremost, we must cultivate gratitude. When we focus on the blessings in our own lives rather than fixating on what others have, we develop a spirit of thankfulness.Today’s Scripture Verses:Proverbs 4:23 - “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”Galatians 5:26 - “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."Proverbs 14:30 - “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group