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THE SNARE OF ENVY

16/08/2016 09:11:00 By Charles Samunenge

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ONE of the great enemies to development and national progress is envy. Envy runs so deep in the recesses of our hearts. No one is exempted from the diabolical power of envy. All of us manifest envy at different degrees. Some of us reading this article may be saying, “I am not envious of anyone.”

Who really among us deeply knows his own heart? Years ago prophet Jeremiah declared in Jeremiah 17:9; “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

We all need to work on the envious tendencies of our souls. Envy is pandemic and very deadly every time it infects our relationships. All of us are tempted to envy in one way or the other. Temptation is part of real life.
All of us, or at least most of us have succumbed to envy at some point in our lives. Envy is actually a universal problem that is a fundamental by-product of our fallen human condition. Someone said envy is the pain felt when someone has what we want. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines envy as; “The feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.” Envy and jealousy seem to be words that are closely related, but envy seems to be stronger.

Webster’s Dictionary defines envy as; “The painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined by a desire to possess the same advantage. It is the distress we experience when we see someone succeeding.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, jealousy is defined as; ‘Disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness; hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage.’

Generally, in many contexts the words ‘envy’ and ‘jealousy’ are virtually used interchangeably. Our emotions have both the positive and negative side. This applies also to the emotion of envy and jealousy. There is actually a balanced jealousy that protects and guards an exclusive, covenantal relationship. Jealousy is only positive when it comes to protect and guard, anything out of that scope is negative and destructive to family, community and national relationships.

Our negative response to diligent people’s attainments is one of the fundamental problems of our human existence, in families and communities. Envy is an anti-social vice that has the potential of sabotaging the success and progress of any given society. One of the most compelling writings on envy is found in the New Testament book of James Chapter 3:14-17; “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Envy usually produces bitter fruit in relationships. Inevitably all of us have to struggle with the negative elements of ambition and self-seeking which usually cause us to envy others. Since envy is rooted in pride, it will always boast and lie against the truth about what we have and who we really are.

As much as self-seeking shadows envy, so does strife. Where there is envy, strife will also appear. Strife is a contentious struggle for superiority among people, either in the family, community or at the workplace. Envy is a very destructive passion. Proverbs 14:30 says, “…a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” Not only is envy rottenness to the bones, but it is also rottenness to families, communities and the nation. Envy is usually hidden, till a certain occasion avails itself. When your colleague is promoted, you suddenly discover the true nature of your friendship. Does his or her promotion bring feelings of jealousy and offence to you. Or do you rejoice and celebrate with them.

In order for us to be a progressive and developing society, we must all fight the temptation of being envious of one another to the detriment of the future of our families and communities. I believe the first thing we must do is to embrace and accept who we are.
God created all of us to be unique and special in our own way. We must refuse to compare or compete with others in an unhealthy way. Learning to compliment and appreciate the difference in others will always keep us sober minded in the context of envy. We also must accept the fact that success is a journey and then embark on that journey and be willing to pay the price of success.
We must always look at envy and jealousy as low level mentalities. One of the greatest anti-envy medicines I know of is love.

The Bible gives us good definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “…love does not envy...” First World status is possible when we begin to embrace excellence, good management of resources, truthfulness and genuine love for the nation and one another.