Cultivating Spiritual Growth: Overcoming Envy

"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother

or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law,

you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it." - James 4:11 (NIV)

James 4:11 reminds us of the importance of fostering a spirit of unity and avoiding

judgment and slander within the Christian community. This scripture highlights the

significant role that eliminating envy and judgment plays in our spiritual growth.

Understanding the Destructive Nature of Envy:

Envy is a powerful and destructive emotion that can hinder our spiritual growth. It occurs

when we covet the possessions, achievements, or qualities of others, often leading to

negative feelings such as jealousy, bitterness, and resentment.

Envy can be a significant stumbling block on our path to spiritual growth, as it distracts

us from God's plan for our lives and diverts our focus from our spiritual development.

Envy Stunts Spiritual Growth:

Envy is like a weed in the garden of our souls. It chokes out the spiritual fruits of love,

peace, and contentment. When we are preoccupied with the success, possessions, or

status of others, we lose sight of our unique journey and the path that God has set

before us.

Envy can lead to spiritual stagnation as we focus more on worldly comparisons than on our

relationship with God.

The mindset of the Flesh

Ask yourself if you quarrel like children and take sides. Do envy and strife divide you?

These things indicate a life centered on oneself. Satan knows a house divided against

itself will fall. He doesn’t want believers to stand firm in the promises of God.

Satan’s goal is to create a spirit of division to operate in our personal, church, social,

and family lives.

He doesn’t want us to be united and grow spiritually. Because he knows that if we join

our faith, we’ll arrive at the full stature of Christ Jesus.

The Path to Spiritual Growth:

To experience spiritual growth, we must eliminate envy from our hearts and minds.

Eliminating envy involves:

a. Cultivating Contentment: Being content with what we have and trusting that God's

plan for our lives is perfect.

b. Practicing Gratitude: Focusing on the blessings and gifts God has given us rather

than fixating on what others have.

c. Supporting and Encouraging Others: Instead of envying their success, we should

celebrate the achievements of our brothers and sisters in Christ and offer support and

encouragement.

d. Reflecting on God's Plan: Spending time in prayer and reflection to better

understand God's unique plan for our lives without comparing ourselves to others.

Envy, strife, and division can stunt your spiritual growth as a believer. It keeps you from

fully understanding what God wants you to know through his word and your teachers

and pastors.

Equipped For Works of Service

Satan doesn’t want us to fulfill God’s plans as individuals or as a family of believers. He

doesn’t want us to spread the truth and love of the Lord.

Christ has equipped his people for works of service. So the body of Christ may be

built up and reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and

become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

( See Ephesians 4: 13 NIV)

God has given believers various gifts. Some are called to be apostles, evangelists,

pastors, and teachers, some are encouragers. These gifts/ works of service contribute

to the growth of all. They operate in the body of Christ (believers) built up and made

perfect in love.

No gift is more important than another, we are the body of Christ, and together we can

build each other up in love and service.

Get Rid of Envy

Part of fulfilling God’s plan for your life is eliminating envy because it stunts your

spiritual growth.

For example, if someone receives a blessing while you wait for yours, you can choose

not to be jealous and wonder when it will be your turn.

You can say, “I’m happy for them when that thought comes up. If God can do it for them,

he can do it for me too.”

Learn to pray for others to be blessed. Pray that God will do for them what we want him

to do for you. Remember what you sow into others through your prayers. God can make

it happen for us as believers.

Bless others, and don’t be afraid they will get ahead of you. Don’t envy their

possessions, appearance, education standing, gifts, talents, or anything else. Doing so

will only hinder your blessings.

Don’t Waste Your Time

Being jealous and envying others is a waste of time. God gives all of us gifts; they don’t

come anywhere but from him.

God has a unique plan for each of us, and the gifts he gives are part of that plan. You

can trust him. He knows what he’s doing; what he does for others isn’t our business.

Our job is to walk in love.

Speak the Truth in Love and Grow

Speaking the truth in love is the opposite of envy, strife, and division. You can’t do both

at the same time.

When you speak the truth in love, you grow up. When you envy, fuss, and separate

from one another, you return to babyhood in your spiritual growth.

Don’t let Satan stop your spiritual growth by giving you a spirit of division. Instead,

speak the truth in love and grow with Jesus.

When you slander or speak against one another, you judge others and the law of love.

That job belongs to God.

(James 4:11)

Bless others, and pray for them the same way you want God to bless you. Don’t let

envy, strife, and division stunt your spiritual growth.

Don’t Let Envy Stunt Your Spiritual Growth:

Part of fulfilling God's plan for your life is eliminating envy because it stunts your spiritual

growth. James 4:11 is a powerful reminder that we should avoid judgment and slander,

promoting unity within the Christian community.

Envy can hinder our spiritual walk, and overcoming it requires a conscious effort to

focus on our relationship with God and His unique plan for our lives.

As we strive to eliminate envy and cultivate contentment, gratitude, and support for one

another, we open ourselves up to a more profound spiritual growth that aligns with

God's intentions for our lives. By doing so, we can experience a closer walk with God

and a more mature spiritual growth.

S. Fowler