Envy is a curse everyone experiences. King David overcame envy by keeping his focus on God’s goodness (Ps 73). None the less, the apparent prosperity of the wicked challenged his belief in God’s goodness, but then the other option, ignoring the Lord’s goodness, offered no consolation at all. If David preferred something over God it would bring upon him adverse consequences.
Those who appear to have envious lifestyles often end up destitute. They eventually stumble and fall. Their end is ruin. On the other hand, those who believe God is good will remain steadfast and secure.
Sins, including envy, hurt us (vs 2) and others close to us (vs 15). When we envy it makes us embittered toward others—including God. It pricks our heart like a sharp knife and causes us great internal strife and pain. Envy ferments in our heart and makes it sour. We swell like leavened bread with false and unrealistic desires (vs 21). Envy causes us to be brutish, ignorant, and to act in an uncivilized manner (vs 22).
The Antitoxin for Envy
Who can save us from such a poisonous substance? David was tempted to envy the wicked because they appeared to initially prosper. He saw in them what looked like a good and pleasant life. He was even tempted to tell his children that trusting in God’s goodness had no value. Then he realized it was the wicked and not the righteous who in the end will stumble and fall. They will ultimately face doom and destruction.
David overcame envy when he turned to God in worship. He realized that God was with him continually in worship (vs 23). He then, in worship, was reminded that God was his primary and deepest desire (vs 25). Finally, he acknowledged that being near to God was the greatest good and the only thing worth envying (vs 28). This is the antitoxin for the poison of envy. It’s administered to our hearts every time we worship God.
Worship’s Benefits
Some think to rid yourself of envy you must degrade yourself. Think of how unworthy you are before God and others and you will quench the desire to envy. This isn’t a biblical solution. David doesn’t degrade himself to overcome envy. Rather, he takes comfort in knowing that God keeps him (vs 23). He confesses to his soul that God remains continually with him. The symbol of God holding his right hand is a picture of God giving David the strength to overcome envy. It’s God’s counsel that leads him away from envious thoughts (1 Cor 10:13). David didn’t degrade himself—he elevated God through worship.
In worship, we are reminded that God never leaves us, that he supplies us with the strength to overcome any temptation, and it’s in worship that we quit envying the wicked and temporary satisfaction. As we enjoy God in worship life’s priorities return to a healthy eternal perspective. We are reminded that God is needed above everything else. In worship, we come into contact with a God who cares. When we are tempted to envy he is the antidote for envying what others have. “Whom have I in heaven,” David asks. He has the Lord—what else does he need? In worship, we realize that envy is not only unhealthy but it’s unnecessary. God fully satisfies (Rom 9:33, 10:11).
Who Really Slips and Falls?
At the beginning of this study, David began addressing envy by asserting that God is good. Realizing God’s goodness is the solution to an envious heart. He stated this truth up front because the righteous are not defrauded of their reward for being faithful to God and the wicked do not escape judgment in the end. God is good. David felt the sense of stumbling and slipping in his faith, but in reality, it’s a wicked lifestyle that sets feet on a slippery path. Envy causes failure and ruin (vs 27).
David’s conclusion was that as long as God was with him, as long as God remained in control of his circumstances, and as long as he regularly worshipped the Lord, then there was nothing else he needed–he was able to overcome envy. He needed nothing more in heaven or on earth. The expression “heaven … earth” is a Hebrew linguistic expression meaning “everything.” Regardless of David’s circumstances, whether they were good or bad, his heart would not envy. God was everything to him: his strength and portion.
The material world’s offerings were not what David thought was ultimately good. Neither was his satisfaction based on recognition, advancements, or successes. David no longer focused on the prosperity and possessions of the wicked. What David thought was good was knowing God. To be near to God was everything to him. Envying those who are far from the Lord, even if they are wealthy, eventually meant nothing to him.
Closeness to God Overcomes Envy
Envy is overcome by worshipping the one true God Jesus Christ. Sensing the personal closeness of God removes the feelings of envying what others have. The greatest good in this world is having access to our Creator God. Jesus Christ claimed to be that access point. He is the gate for his sheep (Jn 10:7). He isn’t one of many gates to God; he’s the only gate that accesses God. Jesus claimed that “whoever enters through me will be saved” (vs 9). Jesus provides the ability to overcome any sin including envy.
Alienation from God brings destruction; fellowship with God is what is truly good (Jam 4:7-10). What can we do as God applies the work of Christ to our lives? We can approach him, as James tells, with humility. Those who have gone before us also struggled with envy. But they are not looking down from heaven and thinking we are poor unfortunate souls. They are caught up in endless joy as they adore and worship God. Their focus is on worshipping God (Rev 4:9-11). They have access to God the Father through faith in Jesus the Son. There is no longer any reason to be envious for they worship the envy of the world!
