Understanding Envy

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

 - Matthew 21:43


People that act upright, that live morally, that have purity of heart, that serve others, that live according to the highest ideals: they are always going to be hated by the have-nots.  And I say "have-nots," not in the financial sense, but in the favor-of-God sense. These people have peace in their hearts, and that's worth all the gold in the world. 

Those on the outside, hate this. They want to bring other down to their level. Poor people would rather make others poor, than attain to wealth themselves. Yes, these are generalizations.

Joseph was sold into slavery, because of envy. Jesus likewise was seized by authorities and found guilty of a capital crime. Why did good men get punished?

I think it's a type of lesson, having to do with what will happen to us if we don't take things seriously. If we start compromising on sin and purity. Slavery and torture could be meted out to good men like Joseph and Jesus, who had done no wrong, imagine what is in store for America, if we lose our stewardship of being the Light of the World!

We're losing our grip. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes we have growing churches. We are planting churches and temples in new places that advance our reach. But here at home, we seem to have given up the fight to advance the cause of Christ, which is: Feed the hungry, house the homeless, visit those in prison, welcome the aliens, and refrain from immorality!

It's not either-or.  It's all-of-the-above.

The part where the kingdom is taken from us is a brutal, violent one . . . it's quite like Joseph's treatment by his brothers. It starts with a mob of envious people, and we won't always have a brother, Reuben, stepping in to spare our lives. 

Cain, Esau, Joseph's brothers, Pharaoh, King Saul, the Scribes and Pharisees. It always starts with envy,