Christians are called to abhor envy and not be conformed to the worldly influences that stir it up in us. But we are naïve if we think we can wholly escape these influences. We are each given different stations in life as well as places in the church. We may be good at our respective roles, but whether we are content with them is another question.
In Christian ministry, envy can take many forms. Some are obvious, like comparing salary packages or church size. We can envy the gifted preacher or compelling writer. Pastors might envy a fellow minister who gets invited to be a guest speaker at conferences or has a large social media following.
At the local level, we can begrudge the woman whose Bible studies are packed with eager students, or the new choir member who gets all the solos. Sure, he may be the best baritone the church has had in years, but does he have to wear that smug expression on his face all the time?
Other forms of envy in ministry are more subtle, and perhaps worse. You may envy a couple’s happy marriage when yours has been a struggle. You may cringe when you get that Christmas card from the pastor whose family is bigger than your church session, when infertility or spiritually wayward children have been your lot.
Yes, your theology of God’s grace and sovereignty reminds you it’s not a competition, but your fallen nature whispers otherwise. It’s not that we are ungracious to ourselves; it’s that we are ungenerous towards others and begrudge them the kindnesses God has shown to them.
Envy treats God’s grace as one small pie which must be fought over, rather than a bountiful feast with a variety of dishes, each one perfectly prepared by our host.
Remedies for Envy
Envy is a live topic for me, personally. Because I am handicapped by chronic nerve pain, every time I see someone biking, or hear about their wonderful hike or fabulous vacation, I feel envy’s stabs. I have to remind myself of God’s love for me in Christ, just as I am. He has given me this pilgrimage. All I must do is walk my own path, no one else’s, and be grateful for the many decades during which I could travel or hike — more than many are afforded, and more than I deserve.
This is also true in my ministry, as I have had to give over much of my work, and the resulting recognition and credit, to those who are far more energetic and competent than I am. If I allow myself to envy their gifts and hard work, it will not go well for me or the church. I must learn, like John the Baptist, to decrease that Christ (in others) may increase.
Envy is territorial. Love is not.
How do I counter the envy I sometimes feel so sharply toward others? With kindness — kindness that stems from the gospel. As Paul writes, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted …” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
What does this gospel kindness look like? First, very simply, to rejoice with those who rejoice, as Paul enjoins in I Corinthians 12:26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
I have a much easier time suffering with those who suffer than rejoicing with those who are honored. When I see God bless my sister or brother, I should give thanks and remember my communion with them in Christ.
Even with an unbeliever, I should wish for them every blessing in Christ and, in the meantime, delight with them in their common graces. If they need humbling through some form of suffering or deprivation, that is God’s business, not mine. My job is to pray for them to come to Christ and wish them well, both now and in the hereafter.
Second, when it comes to our own successes, we should do our part not to provoke others to jealousy by constantly heralding our achievements or blessings. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth …” (Proverbs 27:2).
So yes, dote on your grandchildren, but be careful around your peers who have none. If you are a voracious reader, perhaps share your three favorite books of the year, not a picture of the massive tower of titles you plowed through. Not everyone has that sort of free time or rigor. As Paul writes, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26).
Finally, when we are tempted to compare the fruitfulness of our ministries to others, we should remember the great eschatological hope of the gospel. One day, the smoke will clear, and everything will be made plain. Paul tells us that much which looks grand and impressive now will not last, because it was not built on Christ (I Corinthians 3:10-15).
On the other hand, Jesus teaches us that if a widow puts two pennies into the offering plate, those coins may be far more valuable to God than another person’s fortune (Luke 21:1-4). The apostle John wrote one-fifth of the New Testament. His brother, James, did nothing much we know of except to get beheaded. It’s silly to think of them as arguing in heaven over who did more for the Kingdom, despite their earlier vainglory (cf. Mark 10:37). Both played the part assigned to him, and that’s all that matters.
Envy looks to the here and now, the sin of constant comparison. Faith looks to the things above and remembers that for all those in Christ, it’s going to be alright.
Chris Hutchinson is pastor of word and prayer at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg, Virginia.