Envy

I’m sure no one reading this blog has ever been envious of someone else. I’m sure you’ve never thought, “Why do they get to go on that trip? The rich keep getting richer. I hate it when people cut in line…”  Envy. There’s a reason why it’s one of the seven deadly sins, and it can destroy governments, communities, small groups and friendships.

One of the themes in Matthew 20:1-16 is envy. The master of the vineyard goes out early in the morning to hire day laborers to work in the fields. They form a verbal agreement which is contractually binding for the workers hired first to be paid one denarius – the going rate for a day’s work. After agreeing to pay the first group a denarius for their work the master goes back to the square four more times to hire workers. Only when the master goes back he does not set up a specific amount these workers are to be paid. Instead the master tells them I will pay you what is right. At the end of the day the master pays all of his workers a denarius and those who are hired first are envious of those hired last. The workers hired first do not think it is right those who did not work the full day should get a full day’s wage. The workers hired first also think they should be paid more if they workers hired last are going to receive the full day’s wage. The workers hired first are envious.

The obvious teaching from this passage is God is always calling His people home, and even those who “hire on” just before the trumpet calls and Jesus returns to earth will receive the same gift of salvation the first century Christians did on Easter morning. This is a common Biblical theme. Envy shows up in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve desire to be like God and eat of the fruit of the tree they were not supposed to eat. Envy shows up in the New Testament story of the Prodigal Son, and envy shows up here. A lot of people start to think if I can accept Jesus Christ just before I die then why should I work hard at being a Christian now. I’ll just accept Christ on my death bed. Brothers and Sisters that is a scary gamble, and what is worse there is so much to be missed out on by living life that way. I’ll probably sound like Yoda by writing this, but envy leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering which can only make lives miserable. There is so much love, and life, and joy to be missed if we hunker down and wallow in envy about the good that’s happening to others. If you struggle with envy let me encourage you to pray to God for help. Seek God’s guidance in dealing with envy and to mend the strive in your live caused by envy. Perhaps now is the time to seek a revelation.

In His Peace,
Richard