Rooting For Rivals: Pursuing A Higher MissionSample

Envy vs. contentment

It’s no coincidence that many biblical examples of envy involve brothers. Aristotle observes that envy—craving for ourselves what God has given to others—is most acute among equals. Cain murders Abel after Abel’s offering finds favor with God and his does not. Joseph is sold into slavery by brothers envious of their father’s deep love for a favored child. The Prodigal Son’s elder brother stands off at a distance, filled with resentment while his father celebrates a son returned home.

God invites us to look outside ourselves—not so we can rank and rate one another, but because “your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10) is too lofty a goal to undertake alone. Yet when we see others’ success in ministry, we too often compare ourselves rather than celebrating the ways God is working through and in them. Instead of evaluating our success by how faithful we are to the opportunities and abilities God has provided us, we slip into comparison. And nothing crushes collaboration and friendship faster than competition. Envy undermines our shared mission and sabotages our efforts to serve together.

As we focus on using the skills and resources God has entrusted to us, He invites us to practice contentment. To find peace and fullness of joy in God and what’s within our bounds. Pastor and author Robert Gelinas says, “Envy wants us to hate our life. … Envy wants us to be angry with God—I can’t believe You gave me this life. Contentment [allows us to say], I can’t believe You gave me this life!” 

Our brothers and sisters in Christ are not our rivals but our co-laborers. May we learn to “rejoice with those who rejoice [and] mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) as we loosen the grip of envy and practice contentment. 

To fight the vice of envy:

1. Realize comparison is a losing game. Measuring your success against another’s will inevitably lead to envy or pride. 
2. Ask God for a change of heart, not circumstances. Envy and contentment are conditions of our hearts, not our situations.