Our passage of scripture for meditation says, “Do not let your heart envy sinners”. This brings us to the seventh item on our not-to-do list. A dictionary defines envy as “a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc”. This immediately suggests that sinners may likely post some advantages over believers. They may obtain some results quicker because they cut corners, having no regard for laid down rules or ethical standards. They may possess more in terms of worldly goods since for the most part that is what they worship.

There are several reasons why envy is forbidden of us. Firstly, the envious one is blinded to the many advantages he has in his own life. This also means he has lost a sense of gratitude to God for His wondrous gifts. Secondly, every time we see recorded cases of envy in the Bible it tends towards evil. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because of envy (Acts 7:9). The Jews delivered Jesus to Roman authorities because of envy (Mark 15:10). Paul also suffered persecution because of envy. “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people” (Acts 17:5). Those who are envious of others are but a step from committing greater evil.