“Who is able to stand before envy?”
Proverbs 27:4
“He knew that for envy they had delivered Him.” Matthew 27:18
We often use the words envy and jealousy interchangeably, but in Scripture there is a distinction made. Jealousy is felt for the protection of what is really ours. God is jealous over us (2 Cor. 11:2). Envy is wanting what God has given to someone else. It is a terribly invasive and sinful root and can destroy a family. The sons of Jacob “were moved with envy” when they sold their brother Joseph into slavery (Acts 7:9). Perhaps it was not wise for their father to have singled out Joseph for special favors and a designer coat. Mothers, let us not give our children any reason to feel that we love one above the other.
There may be times when envy rears its ugly head in our home, and we must treat it as a sin. Titus 3:3 classifies it this way. If one of your children in his inherent personality is blessed with a confident and contented nature, another equally intelligent and perhaps even more gifted or beautiful child may feel inferior and envious. This is self-absorption, and it is sinful and must be dealt with firmly and lovingly. We need to realize that envy flows from the old nature, and if your child has accepted the Lord Jesus as Saviour, then he has both a new nature and the Spirit within to help in dealing with this, even though it may be a long and difficult battle. Teach your child to look outward and upward!