1 John 3:12: Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Envy is the thing which characterized Cain. He was envious of his brother, and it led to murder. Envy is that which is in the human heart. As someone has said, “The most destructive force in the world is jealousy and envy.” Let me give you a definition of envy: “discontent or uneasiness at the sight of another’s excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages.” That exactly describes Cain. Envy and jealousy among believers in the church hurt the cause of Christ today probably more than anything else. It is that old secret sin that many believers cover up. How many soloists are jealous of another soloist? How many preachers are jealous of another preacher? A great deal of backbiting that goes on in the church has its root in one thing: jealousy. Boy, that is a mean one! And jealousy is the reason that Cain killed Abel—God had accepted his brother’s works and not his own. 1
Loving Him
The root sin is pride. Once pride has set up a strong hold in your heart, envy and jealousy will build their homes. They will become your new landlords and foreclose on your relationship with God and demand a rent increase every month until they force you to become their slave. The price tag is your life and your testimony. It is wise to only want what God wants for you, and to only receive what Jesus places in your hands.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
Loving Others
Envy is wanting something that God has not given to you. – TWEET IT
Changing Me
Lord, thank You for becoming all I want and all I need.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 John) (electronic ed., Vol. 56). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
