A Trait That Can Poison Our Minds.
ENVY.
Napoleon Bonaparte had it. Julius Ceasar had it, even Alexander the Great had it. Despite all their power and glory, these men harbored in their heart a trait that can poison one's mind. They were all ENVIOUS.
Envy is a feeling of resentment toward others because of their belongings prosperity and so forth. This is completely different from jealousy. Jealousy refers to the desire to want what someone has. Envy refers to the desire to completely deprive another of what he has.
Though an imperfect man, apostle Paul warned is at Galatians 5:26.
Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.
Scriptural examples shows how bad this trait is.
Cain
Cain felt bitter against God and his brother because he accepted his brother (Abel) sacrifice, not he's. He could have remedied this situation, but he was blinded by envy that led him to killing his brother.
(Genesis 4:4-8)
Joseph's brothers.
They simply hated him because he was their father's favorite and when he started having prophetic dreams, the envy grew to the point that they almost killed him.
(Genesis 37:4-11,23-28,31-33)
A powerful antidote, "LOVE".
Apostle paul admonished Christians at 1 Peter 1:22,
Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result love one another intensely from the heart.
Developing love for one another helps remove this negative tendency of envy.
Remember the case of David and Jonathan. Though Jonathan was supposed to be king, David was appointed by the Most High as king, yet according to 1 Samuel 18:1, Jonathan
Loved him as his own soul.
Though the first against envy might not be easy, we shouldn't allow this rule our lives.
By not allowing envy to control us, we can make our lives happier and most importantly, please our heavenly father.
