The envy of humankind, one for another, flows out of an inherent distrust in God to know what is best for them. It is only in trust that we can find security and therefore lay aside jealousy and envy which cause division and separations. Distrust forms a deep root. It begins at the core of our identity, eroding away any faith we have in the God who created us. Once our opinions of God’s sovereignty have been sufficiently tainted, distrust seeps into our every interaction with God and forms a glass through which God’s glory appears dark and twisted. This corruption of our faith leads us to doubt the will of God, the provision of God, the works of God, the faithfulness of God, and even the love of God. Distrust finds its purchase in the people around us. They are fallible, so we willingly accuse God of their same shortcomings. 

It is no wonder then that our relationships become tainted by envy. How can a man love and accept God’s creation when he distrusts the God who creates? Every success of our neighbor feels like a slight when we are measuring ourselves through comparison (2 Cor 10:12). We cannot love if we do not trust. 

1 John 4:18-21

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Yielding Prayer

Father, I repent for how I have judged your love for me through what you do for your other children. I accept your promise that you will not withhold any good thing from me, (Ps 84:11) and accept the truth that if you hold something back that it is not good for me. I repent for how I have allowed my distrust of you to prompt me into envy, jealousy, and division with my brothers and sisters. I accept that you know what is best for me and I choose to submit to you today. Father, please reveal to me your love in greater measure so that I can reflect it to others.