The Sin of Envy

I remember our family sitting on the rocks along Lake Michigan trying to feed the seagulls and as soon as one gull started to go for the food, another one would land and start yelling at him. Then a third gull joined them and then the entire flock jumped on them all and the contest became quite serious. Please understand that this is standard operating procedure for seagulls. Some time ago a scientist put a red band on a sea gull to see how the other gulls would react, they literally pecked him to death because he had something they didn't have. Nice birds, huh?

In Matthew chapter 27, we read of the arrest and the trial of our Lord, just before the crucifixion. In this chapter we read a very revealing statement, it gives the startling reason behind the execution of the Son of God.

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. (Mat 27:17,18)

Did you notice that little four letter word, envy? They were jealous of Jesus. More people were listening to Him than to them, so they plotted to have Jesus put to death. Whenever Sin is mentioned; envy is probably not the first sin you think of. But in a sense it was envy that killed our Savior. It was essentially envy that caused Cain to kill his brother Abel, because Abel got a better response from God than he did. Envy made King Saul try to kill David.

Envy is not a harmless little sin, it's ugly, it's destructive and it leads to hurt and hate, but it's almost never identified, or mentioned. If we are not careful this silent sin may enter our hearts. The sin of Envy is like the seagulls; it is the darkness that creeps in when we see someone who has something we don't have. You see Envy always starts with comparing. If we didn't compare ourselves with other people we wouldn't envy.

Maybe you're struggling right now with bad feelings toward someone because you've been comparing. The seagulls have shown me that envy can make you attack the one you're jealous of. Isn't it time to call your feelings what they are? The sin of envy. Repent of those feelings to your Savior who was sent to be crucified because of envy.

Jealousy makes otherwise beautiful seagulls, ugly. It does the same to you and me. Let’s guard our hearts against the sin of envy.

Clinging to the old rugged Cross,