Love Does not Envy

Discipleship Devotional, January 21st, 2025

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
-1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

As a believer, it is very important how you respond when you see other people progressing, particularly when it seems like you are not seeing the same progress. You must never allow envy and bitterness into your heart. The good news, however, is that God’s love has been shed abroad in our hearts, and that love does not envy. If you find yourself struggling with envy, you need to walk in the love of Christ.

Feelings of envy and jealousy are temptations of Satan, just like every other work of the flesh. It is our responsibility as believers to mortify the deeds of the flesh by walking in the Spirit. Today, we have spouses who envy one another and are threatened by the progress of one another. This is even more unfortunate because they are not only not walking in love, but they also don’t understand the covenant of marriage—that two become one. A couple should not have envy for one another because they are now one. When there is such envy and insecurity, it is proof that they don’t understand true love, as true love does not envy.

In the context of 1 Corinthians 13, the idea is that love does not focus on personal desires. It is not eager to increase possessions. God’s type of love is selfless, not selfish. We, in turn, ought to be selfless and not selfish if we want to overcome envy. A heart that puts others before self is a heart that will be difficult to envy.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
-Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, help me to continually walk in love and put away envy.