The root cause of envy is an egocentric lack of contentment. If left to fester and grow, it leads to spiritual, emotional, and even physical degradation ...
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)
Though the terms are closely related, 'envy' and 'jealousy' are not synonymous ...
Envy - a resentful reaction to the thought that someone has something you lack; a desperate longing for the possessions, position, fortune, achievements, or success of another. It is 'covetousness'.
Jealousy - a feeling of anger or fear at the threat of losing something (or someone) to a rival; a sense of dread or suspicion when what we possess might be taken away.
They are listed separately in the following passage, along with other egregious sins ... Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Envy is mentioned many times in the Bible. Here are but a few examples:
1. Cain killed Abel out of envy because God looked with favor on the younger brother’s sacrifice. (Genesis 4:3-5)
2. Esau envied his brother, Jacob, because of the blessing his father, Isaac, had given him. (Genesis 27:41)
3. Rachel envied her sister because Leah gave birth to Jacob’s sons while Rachel remained childless. (Genesis 30:1)
4. Saul envied David for his success in battle and his popularity among the people. (1 Samuel 15:6-16)
5. The Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested because they were seized with envy. (Mark 15:10)
The Word of God paints a vivid picture of envy's devastating effects ... Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:15-16)
Jesus gives us a dire warning ... It is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come - sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person. (Mark 7:20-23)
Christians are called to eschew all envy ... Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. (1 Peter 2:1).
So, how do we rid ourselves of envy? The hymn, 'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus' expresses it beautifully ... 'The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace'.
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