THINK TOGETHER.
Do you envy anyone (do you want their life instead of your own)?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 23:17. Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
Envy is one of the most common and the most dangerous sins. At some point we all envy someone else. What is envy? Envy is when you wish you had someone else’s life – Why do they get everything? Why do things always work out for them and not me? I wish I could be like him.
Sometimes we want some THING that someone else has. That’s called coveting or jealousy. But envy goes even deeper. Envy happens when we don’t like who we are. It is such a big sin because it is ultimately blaming God for making you who you are – God, why didn’t you give me a good life like her?
There’s only one thing worse than envy. Envying the life of a sinner. Now we know that everyone is a sinner, but when Solomon says “sinner” here he means someone who doesn’t love God or trust God at all. A sinner is the opposite of someone who fears the Lord. Who do you most want to be like? Do they love God, and follow Jesus? If not, then why would you want to be like them?
There’s only one way to overcome envy in your heart. Trust Jesus.
When you trust in Jesus and receive his life you are receiving everything that is his. Now Jesus’ life is the only one worth envying, and good news – you already have it if you are trusting in him. Beyond that you can trust God that everything you have in this life is exactly what is best for you or will be made the best for you by his grace.
Because of Jesus we can share his life.
With Jesus we never have to envy another person’s life.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Who are your kid’s heroes? Who do they look up to? (think about: posters on the wall, trading cards, music artists, actors, social media influencers). Do these people love and fear God? Should we want our lives to be like anyone else’s life other than Jesus?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, keep my heart from envy and make me happy with the life you have given me, both eternal life and the life I have now, which is the best life for me. Amen.
TLICfamily 