6 hours Ago By SunStar Cebu
Lent is a season of deep reflection, repentance, and reconciliation—a time to examine our hearts and restore relationships with others and God. One of the insidious sins that corrupts the soul, poisons relationships with others and separates us from the blessings of God is envy. St.
Paul writes a powerful message about envy when he writes that “love is not envious” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Envy is the absence of love — and its destructive nature is made clear in Galatians 5:21, where it is listed as a sin that leads to separation from God. Envy is a bitter longing for what others possess: a promotion, success, wealth, or favor.
It is an inner turmoil in which others flourish while we struggle. It causes chaos among people. As James 3:16 warns, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
” Unlike admiration, which builds good relationships, envy isolates us from others, building walls instead of bridges. Throughout Scripture, envy has played a role in some of humanity’s most tragic downfalls. Lucifer fell from the heavenly hosts because of his rebellion and desire to be like God (Isaiah 14:12–14; Luke 10:18).
From the beginning, envy tainted human hearts. Adam and Eve were tempted by the desire to be like God and their disobedience brought suffering and separation from paradise (Genesis 3:22-24). The consequences of their envy extended to all humanity, bringing sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12).
Cain, driven by envy, murdered his brother Abel when God favored Abel’s offering over his own (Genesis 4:8). In the story of Joseph, his brothers’ envy led them to betray him, selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:11-28). In the New Testament, the Pharisees and other religious leaders envied Jesus’s influence and sought to kill him (Matthew 27:18).
In each of these instances, the person who was envied had something others desired, making them a target of jealousy. Envy has been a consistent force throughout history, often leading people away from righteousness and toward destruction. As we enter the season of Lent, let us heed the call to rid ourselves of envy (1 Peter 2:1).
For as Proverbs 14:30 reminds us, “Envy rots the bones.” It poisons our hearts, damages our relationships, and ultimately hinders our ability to inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). Let us embrace the antidote of love, allowing God’s grace to heal our hearts and restore peace.
ruled by political loyalty. But let one truth remain unshaken: No one, not even a former president, is above the law. Whether guilty or innocent, justice and due process must prevail.
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