Love without envy
A Simple Message
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love does not envy” appears to be a very simple descriptor of love’s nature.
While this is true, the passage also serves as an instruction for how to better exercise godly love in our lives.
Envy is defined as the feeling of discontent or resentment rooted in the desire to have what belongs to someone else.
By considering this definition, we can more clearly see why this passage is included in the description and instruction of godly love.
Indeed, the proper focus of our love is considered to be of utmost importance in Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10 warns that focusing our love on material gain is the root of all evil. Matthew 6:21 complements this by teaching that wherever we focus our value, or treasure, that’s where our heart or love will be.
In both of the referenced verses, we find a common warning against envy. To be so fixated on what belongs to another, what is not rightfully ours, our love becomes corrupted and faulty.
The corruption of our love leads to discontent and eventual resentment. Envy, and its resulting emotional damage, can be traced back as the root of many of man’s failings and sufferings.
The love for material gain, spurred by an envy for the material possessions of others, can lead one to neglect family and faith, a path that often leads to separation, isolation, and heartbreak.
Likewise, the envy for a life or person that we have no right to desire has led many a poor soul into unfaithfulness.
Envy can even convince us that God is just better to other people than to us, leading to bitterness, and then faithlessness. The damages of envy inevitably lead to a loss of joy and peace, and increase in toil and sorrow.
With the above in mind, it’s clear why our Savior is so concerned about envy. A fulfilled life grows from a love rooted in gratitude for the life and people God has given us. The secret to contentment, joy, and peace is as simple as learning to love without envy.