Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy

"Let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that build one another up. - ROMANS 14:19.

JACOB loved all his sons, but he had special affection for 17-year-old Joseph. How did Joseph's brothers react?  They became envious of him, and that envy made them bitter.  Joseph had done nothing to deserve the hatred his brothers felt toward him.  Even so, they sold Joseph into slavery and lied to their father, saying that a wild animal had killed his favorite son. Envy caused them to disrupt the peace of the family and to break their father's heart. - GENESIS 37:3, 4, 27-34. 

In the Scriptures, envy is listed among the death-dealing "works of the flesh" that can disqualify a person from inheriting God's Kingdom.  (Read Galatians 5:19-21)  Envy is often the root cause of such poisonous fruit as hostility, strife, and fits of anger. 


The example of Joseph's brothers shows how envy can damage relationships and disturb the peace that once existed in a  family.  Although we would never do what Joseph's brothers did,we all have an imperfect and treacherous heart.  (Jeremiah 17:9) Little wonder, then, that we may at times struggle with feelings of envy.  Let us review some warning examples in the Bible that help us identify reasons why feelings of envy may take root in our heart. We will then consider some practical ways to fight envy and promote peace.

Next time:Pursue Peace by Fighting Envy - WHAT CAN CAUSE ENVY?  

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