The Importance Of Envy

When we think of the seven deadly sins, we often think about Envy. What does it mean to Envy? “Envy is the passion which causes evil, the father of death, the first entrance of sin, the root of wickedness, the birth of sorrow, the mother of misfortune, the basis of disobedience, the beginning of shame” (Hagedorn, 1998, pg. 15). When we are filled with Envy’s trance, we hold resentment in our hearts as we are very aware of a condition or circumstance that is adored by someone else that we may think will make them happier than us. “Might we say that the envier is a wisher” (Kelly, 2015, pg. 400). When Envy has its hold on us, we think the only way we can find that happiness that the other person owns is to have the same thing that they hold dear. The envier does not have any self-worth. Instead they self-loathe, so they are constantly looking for that one “thing” that is making other people so happy. “Envy, once a deadly sin, has now become an emotional problem or even a surprising good” (Bringle, 2001, pg. 19). Maybe Envy is a surprising good because we need to combat Envy with kindness? The …show more content…
We have learned that Envy cannot survive when we combat it with the virtue kindness. “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” (1 Peter 2:1, NIV). When we are filled with Envy’s Trance is it possible to recognize it and turn it into kindness? Absolutely, when we live by Gods word we walk in his image. We can live in truth, beauty, and goodness when we combat our sins with virtues. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8,