Love does not envy is part of the 1 Corinthians 13:4, but what the heck does that mean? Beats me. I guess this post is over. Well not really. We need to dig a little to understand what this means.
The word “envy” is translated from ancient Greek and it means “to burn with zeal.” Did that clear it up any? Probably not, so lets dig a little deeper. By one definition envy means:
painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
That is probably about as close as we are going to get to really understanding what envy means. However, others will translate it as meaning jealousy. No matter what, envy causes a lot of pain because someone is wanting what another has yet they cannot obtain it most of the time.
The point is that when we love others as we are supposed to, we do not hate them for who they are or what they have nor do we complain about their advantages. In fact, we are happy that they are who they are and have what they have.
In America, there is a big movement to get rid of capitalism because these people are jealous of what the rich have. Instead of being jealous, we should be happy that there are rich people. They can help the community and the nation in ways that others cannot. They are blessed and we need to encourage them to see this instead of complaining or being mad that they have wealth.
We also do not seek what others have in the way of their marriage. Every marriage is different yet people are constantly seeking ways to make their marriage like that of celebrities/famous people, their neighbors, etc. The reality is that your marriage is unique to you and your spouse and you should be thankful for the relationship you have with that person.
Do you express envy? Are you jealous of others? Do you hate others for what they have or who they are? Stop! Stop comparing yourself to them and wanting to be them. Instead, be thankful for who you are because God made you and you are a unique and special person.