Deep Dive into Sins of the Heart: Envy/Jealousy
Envy is defined as grief at another’s good coupled with the desire that it be diminished. It is a root sin and a profound act of heart-rebellion, which Scripture calls "bone-rot." The moral law exposes envy as a species of covetousness that breaches the Tenth Commandment, requiring full contentment with one’s condition. Theologically, envy is a quarrel with the divine apportioner and is diagnosed as practical atheism of the affections, since it denies God’s wise providence.
Envy is dramatically exposed by the cross, where it reached its dreadful apex: the Gospels record that Jesus was handed over "out of envy." This act reveals envy as malice against grace and hostility to God’s generosity, exemplified by the "evil eye" that begrudges the Master’s kindness. The cross is history’s verdict on this sin.
The cure for envy is rooted entirely in Christ and applied through sanctification, involving the twin movements of mortification and vivification. In justification, status-hunger ends because the believer’s righteousness is settled by Christ’s imputed work, closing the courtroom of comparison. In union with Christ and adoption, the "economy of scarcity" is broken, as the believer possesses "every spiritual blessing," and sibling-rivalry ends.
The progressive cure involves mortification—putting envy to death—by specific confession, where the believer names the person resented and the providence quarreled with. This is balanced by vivification—the enlivenment of holy affections like gratitude, contentment, and charity. Contentment is learned by rehearsing providence and counting God’s mercies. The cure is practiced through acts of contrary love: honoring the person envied, praying for their prospering, and rejoicing with those who rejoice. This transformative process aims at the theological shift where, because Christ is sufficient, the neighbor’s gain becomes the believer’s joy.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
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