The Hidden Cost Of Envy

Comparison can begin quietly.

Someone else's home.
Their marriage.
Their career.
Their finances.
Their success.

Even the life you thought you would have by now.
And before you realise it, what started as comparison can become envy, jealousy, resentment, and a quiet dissatisfaction with your own life.

But why does something that seems so human have such a powerful effect on our hearts?

In this week's Bible study, we take a closer look at the Tenth Commandment: “You shall not covet.”
What does coveting actually look like in everyday life?
• Why do we find ourselves constantly comparing what we have with what someone else has?
• When does admiration turn into envy?
• Why can jealousy leave us feeling restless, dissatisfied, and constantly behind?
• And what happens inside us when we begin believing that someone else's life is evidence that ours is lacking?

The Bible gives us a sobering warning:
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
— James 3:16

And Proverbs tells us that “a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.”

Envy doesn't just steal our joy. It can disturb our peace, lead to chaos and ever thing that is not from God. It can cloud our perspective, and take our eyes away from what God is doing in our own lives.

But jealousy and envy are human emotions. So how do we overcome them?

The Bible doesn't simply tell us what not to do. It also shows us how to guard our hearts and minds.
Philippians 4:7 reminds us of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, a peace that guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So what does it look like to replace comparison with contentment?

How do we stop looking sideways at someone else's life and start looking towards Jesus?

And how can God's peace help us recognise that we don't need someone else's life to be grateful for our own?

Listen to this week's Bible study and discover how God's Word can help us overcome envy and jealousy, guard our hearts, and find freedom from the exhausting cycle of comparison.

If this message speaks to you, subscribe for more Bible-based teaching, share it with a friend who needs peace today, and leave a review with the one takeaway that spoke to you most.

Transcript

Why The Tenth Commandment Matters

SPEAKER_00 0:13

And I want to start uh you know with this topic with uh some of us are familiar with and some might not be. So uh I want to tell you actually today is more like a Bible study. It's more like a study for us to have a good foundation. So pay attention this beautiful morning, it's important. It's aligned to God's plan for you and me. And I'm I'm going into this topic called the Ten Commandments. Now, some of you might you know associate this topic with the very famous movie, you know, which had uh Charlton Heston and Yule Brenner. Charlton Heston played Moses and Yule Brenner played Pharaoh Ramses II. And if you associate with that, it also tells you your age. Some of you might not know it at all, might not relate to it at all. But coming back, was a beautiful movie, and you know it um it was a beautiful way the Red Sea was captured for the first time on film, the Red Sea being parted, that is, in its whole little way of effects. But as I said, I want to talk to you today about the Ten Commandments, and um one commandment in particular, and I in case you didn't know, you can find the Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus, the 20th chapter, and I'll tell you, it's in the Old Testament, and you know, Jesus redefined the commandments when he came on this planet. But as I said, I'm starting with Exodus 20, and I'm going on only into this one um commandment, and it's in Exodus 20, the 17th verse. And it says, You shall not covet your neighbor's house, nor shall you covet your neighbor's wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Another version says, his house, his wife, his male servant, female servant, his ox, donkey, or anything that is his. Hallelujah. I want to tell you that you know this commandment tells us not to want what somebody else has. And it's uh it's in this reference where it says calling out a neighbor, which means anyone around you, in other in uh uh a basic sense, it says his or her home, house, belongings, wife, husband, car, jewelry, watches, shoes, bags. Call it what you want, the list can go on. But this beautiful day, I want to add this word, I want to bring in this word, which is not a nice word, but it it does exist. And it's called envy. And some of you know and some of you don't, but we actually have um a reading of us uh of scripture before we start, and some of you get it and some of you don't, or you might not get to hear it, and today, in fact, had this word in it envy. So pay attention this morning, as I said, it's a Bible study, it's something that will keep you for a life on this planet, and what this commandment says is do not be envious of what your neighbor has or what your colleague has or what your relatives have, maybe even a sibling, I don't know. And you know what? There's nothing wrong in it this beautiful morning. I'll tell you why. It's a human thing, and I want to tell you, we are born on this planet, and we are human, we have flesh and blood, and we are human, so to envy is human. There's nothing wrong about it, it's absolutely a normal thing to have. And if you've not had envy at some point of time, I'd probably call it out that there might be something wrong with the way that you look at your life. Hey, I've had envy at some point towards what somebody else had, I don't anymore, but as I said, it's a human thing. So I'm not pointing any finger at you because definitely Jesus would not. He didn't come here to judge anyone, but to set the captives free. But as I said, today is one of those things that will get you thinking. And today I'm going to share something with you amazing from the Word of God. And you'll understand the importance of what I'm talking about today from a study standpoint. A secret on how we keep ourselves on the right path on what God has in store for us. Now you might say it is a beautiful morning. I don't envy anything of anyone. And praise God for that, if you don't envy anything that anyone has. But today, as I said, I'm here to make you aware of certain things through the word of God that will keep you in the right path in life.

Envy Breeds Confusion And Evil

SPEAKER_00 5:55

And I'm going straight into this beautiful morning from the book of James, the third chapter, the 16th verse. And for some of you, this will just be an absolute eye-opener because you've probably never heard the scripture before. From the book of James, the third chapter, the 16th verse, it says, For where envy and self-seeking exist, there exists confusion, and every evil thing are there. Wow, that's not a nice scripture to hear, but hey, it's the word of God, and I want to tell you again for where envy, another version called jealousy, it's basically roots from the same word, and selfish ambition exists, that is, disorder, and every evil thing the Bible says. Wow. I told you today's a Bible study, and it'll open your eyes to a lot of things. And I'm here to share it because God wants to share it with someone this morning. And if you're here and you're hearing this, it's definitely for you. So you see, the passage of scripture says where envy is and self-seeking is basically being self-centered or having your own plans, there is confusion, the Bible calls it out, and it says every evil thing. And as I said, that's not nice at all. And take this today as a learning from the Most High, from the wisdom of Most High, to protect yourselves going forward on this topic. If you have envy in your life, I can tell you there will be chaos, disorder, and every evil thing. That's the word of God. And as I said, it's it's a difficult scripture to understand. And the scripture is definitely an eye-opener and something that you can think about. The Bible says that everything that can be called evil, in the scripture of James, calls it out that it will be there if you have envy. And remember, the evil one only comes to lie, to steal, and to destroy. He only comes for that, and that means if you have envy, and if you have self-ambition, selfish ambition, I'm sorry, or self-seeking, as the Bible calls it in another version, every aspect of this guy is probably going to operate, or you're giving him a door to get in. And as I said, I'm sorry to be the one who shares this news with you, but it's the word of God, and as I said, it's important to know these things, and maybe that's how we can protect ourselves going forward. And this is not good at all. But hey, I told you there's nothing wrong in it because envy is a human thing. And to be as honest as I can be, I've envied things too of other people. Oh, that wonderful Aston Martin. Hallelujah.

Envy Rots Bones Contentment Heals

SPEAKER_00 9:16

From the book of Proverbs. For those of you who know, the book of Proverbs is the book of wisdom. And Proverbs 14:30, the 14th chapter, the 30th verse says, A sound heart is life to the body. A sound heart is life to the body, but jealousy and envy is rottenness to the bones. This passage of scripture calls out that envy brings rot to your bones, and you'll say this is just a passage of scripture. It is an analogy that the Bible is trying to give us. It's a figure of speech. No, it is not. The Bible does not mince words, it is crystal clear, and it's telling you this morning that you have jealousy, or if you have envy, or if you're living in it, or somewhere around your vicinity in life, I want to tell you it will bring rot to your bones. But wait, it does give you a solution, and that's what the but the passage of scripture starts with. It says, a tranquil heart is life to the body. A sound heart, another version says, is life to the body. What is a sound heart? To me, a sound heart is a heart that's content, it's a heart full of joy. And the Bible says it brings life to the body. Don't miss it this beautiful morning. A sound heart, a happy heart, a beautiful heart brings life to the body. It's crystal clear. Envy brings rot to your bones, and a sound, happy heart brings life to your entire body because your bones run through your whole body. Get this beautiful answer this morning from the Most High. I'm here to share it because I've been asked to. But I'm I'm coming back to it. I'm not here to give you bad news. This beautiful morning, I'm here to give you good news because I want to tell you the evil one is already a defeated foe. But he still can come and lie, steal and destroy. And I want to tell you this beautiful morning through the words in the Bible, through the word of God, through these scriptures that I've shared with you. If you have envy and jealousy, I want to tell you that door is probably a jar for him to get in. And you need to keep it out. Hey, as I said, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just here and it's calling out a signal, maybe because you need to hear it this morning. And praise God for that, because he's meeting you at your point in life. And as I said, I have good news to share, and just as you need to knead the dough before you make the pasta or the um the flatbread, the pizza, the the sadh, whatever you want to call it, I am also here to give you good news, and here's the first step. So don't be afraid of what you just heard about jealousy and envy, which started with a commandment in the Old Testament because God knew what he was talking about, and he knew he was dealing with us, his children, who are nothing else but human. So he warned us. And as I said, for the perfect pizza, it all comes down to the perfect dough. And I'm giving you that foundation this morning, and here's the first step.

How To Guard Your Heart

SPEAKER_00 12:57

I'm saying it's the first step. Hallelujah. Proverbs 4 23. And it's again from the book of wisdom. Today's a lesson in wisdom from the Most High. Watch over your heart with all diligence. From it flow the springs of life. Hallelujah. Another version says, Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. Basically, it's trying to tell you that the heart controls everything. And it's telling you, you and me, this beautiful morning, keep your heart with all diligence, which means with everything that you have, protect your heart. Hallelujah. Book of wisdom this morning is telling you and me, protect your heart with all your diligence. With everything that you have, protect your heart, is what this Bible scripture says. Proverbs 4, 23. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. So I'm going to ask, and this is probably the question that everyone has. Because if our from our hearts come the issues of life or the concerns of life, or springs the flow of life, how do I protect my heart? What am I supposed to do to keep my heart in the right place, or as I said, protected? You see, Jesus never left us with anything unturned. He gave us a solution to everything on this planet. And if there's any confusion in your mind today, I will hear it for you from the book of Philippians, the fourth chapter, the seventh verse. From the book of Philippians, the fourth chapter, the seventh verse. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, all comprehension, another version says, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The peace of God. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our heart and our mind through Christ Jesus. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding. What the Bible is trying to tell you and me this morning is the wisdom of this planet, is the understanding that you and I have. There's no other understanding that we have unless you're fully connected to the spirit. And that wisdom is from this world. But the peace that this passage of scripture is talking about comes from heaven. Hallelujah. The peace of God. God is in heaven. He's uh, you know, it's a passage of scripture that will tell you that he's always seated at his throne, at his throne, but he's yet always at your right hand. And that's complex, but I won't get into it this morning because he is always at your right hand. I understand that. But the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart. That means peace that comes from heaven will guard you. But how do I do this? Is the question. It's very easy. The scripture is telling me the answers, it's giving me this dotted lines. But how do I get this? How do we get the peace of God? How do I get the peace of God that I'm protected from this? Hey, some of you might have had envy yesterday for something that you saw, or someone, or some call you received, or I don't know. I don't want to get into it. And you're worried right now after hearing these passages of scripture, but hey, don't worry, I told you I'm here to give you the good news. And the solution is always Jesus. The solution to everything is Jesus.

Perfect Peace Comes From Trust

SPEAKER_00 17:18

And Isaiah 26.3 gives you such a beautiful answer. You and me, in fact, such a beautiful answer this morning. Isaiah 26.3 says, the steadfast mind you will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in you. Oh hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. The steadfast mind, you will keep him in perfect peace, the Bible says, whose mind is stayed on you, another version, because he trusts in you. Hallelujah. God will keep you in perfect peace when you trust in him. And whose mind is stayed on him. Let me tell you one thing. There was someone on this planet who did something supernatural. He walked on water. And I'll tell you how. The Bible says, when Peter, I'm talking about Peter, of course, some of you know, when Peter looked at Jesus, he got out of the boat and he walked on water. The moment he looked at the storm, he fell down, he sunk into the water. And those who keep their mind on God, hallelujah. If you keep your gaze on God, and when you trust in him, yes, it's easy to lose focus. It's normal. Beyond this planet, anything can change your focus really quick. But as long as you trust in him, and trust is a big, big definition. It's a big word, it has so many layers and levels. So if you trust in God, he will keep you in perfect peace. Hallelujah. Stay focused on him is the answer. Hallelujah. And God will keep you in his peace. He will keep you in his peace. Believe me, I want to tell you this morning. He sent his son down on this planet to die on a cross, an excruciating death for you and me, for anyone who puts their faith in Jesus. And you heard it last Sunday, is part of his lineage, part of his line, part of his family tree. And that creator of heaven and earth is telling you and me this beautiful morning. It's okay, it's normal to have jealousy and envy towards certain things in life. But he will keep you and me in perfect peace when you trust him, when you trust the name of Jesus, when you trust him completely. Hallelujah. And I want to go now to the words of Jesus from the book of John. John 16, 33. In the words of Jesus to seal the deal for you and me. And he's talking to his disciples, and he's telling them about things, and that's where the context comes from. And then he says, These things I have spoken to you that in me you will have peace. Hallelujah. In the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, my wonderful child. Be of good cheer, my son, my daughter, I have overcome the world. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. John 16 33, in this beautiful passage of scripture, Jesus has given us the solution. Don't worry. In me you will have peace. Don't worry. And the world, you will have tribulation. It's calling it out. Jesus is calling it out to you and me this morning, saying that, you know what, you might be my son, you might follow me, you might trust me fully, completely, be with me 365 days a year. But you know what? In the world, when you are in the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good sure. I have overcome the world. Hallelujah. That means there's nothing that can come to you and me that Jesus has not already conquered. Oh, hallelujah. Now you know what he means when he said, I am the vine and you are the branches. Stick with me, and you will overcome everything. Hallelujah. There's absolutely nothing more than I can add to these words of Jesus from the book of John 16:33. It's beautiful, it's in Jesus, it is done. That's why he said on the cross it's finished. There's so many things that add up to so many things. In the Bible, it's a secret. But peace is in Jesus alone, it's not anywhere else. You cannot go anywhere else to get peace. And in the world, I will tell you there will be trials and tribulations, but Jesus has overcome them all. He has overcome the world. The Bible says, in three realms, every knee will bow at his name above the earth, on the earth, and below the earth. He has conquered it all. Hallelujah. And with him we can overcome the world. And you say that's not possible. I'm gonna read it to you again. In me you have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Hallelujah. There is nothing more that I can add to the scripture. Be of good cheer this beautiful morning. You who have chosen Jesus, you who know Jesus, you who are about to choose Jesus. Hallelujah.

Jesus Overcomes Tribulation And Envy

SPEAKER_00 23:27

And I've put down a note in my notes called End Score. And I want to tell you, I'm just wrapping it up for you. Be envious of no one and nothing. And I know it's very normal, it's a human thing. And that's why God called it out in the second book to Moses, saying, Don't be envious. Tell the people don't be envious. Because it's nothing else but an entry point to the evil one. And as I said, I'm not getting into that because he's already a defeated foe. But hey, understand it through the word of God. I told you it's it's like a Bible study today. It's wisdom. Take it, it's coming from the Most High. Don't envy anyone, don't envy anything that they have. Don't look at the relationships they have, the people they have around them. Leave it. Just leave it. The Bible says envy will only bring confusion and all evil things. It's not me, it's in the Bible. It will bring confusion. Can you even imagine? I've never seen the scripture before that envy can bring confusion in your life, and envy can bring all evil. Oh my gosh, that's you opening the door for something. Crus it. And as I said, there is no bad news today. It's only good news because Jesus came on this planet that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Hallelujah. Protect your hearts from it. And we can only protect our hearts in Jesus. A sound heart, the Bible says, gives life to your body. Hallelujah. That's so clear. That's so clear. Jesus brings life to your body. Jesus is the peace that you and I need. Hallelujah. And as I said, it's only human, and there's nothing wrong in it to have these kind of emotions. And just to wrap it up, this beautiful morning, I'm giving you again from the book of wisdom the best answer ever that the Most High is giving you in me this morning, and you should just accept it. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and he adds no sorrow to it. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. This beautiful morning, the only reason why you'll envy someone is because of maybe the more you know, you know, more wealth that they might have, a larger car, that they might have a large house, a large family, a large company, multi-billion dollars coming into their bank account. I don't know. Everyone's different. Somebody who envies someone for probably having a restaurant. I don't know. But the blessing of the Lord makes one rich. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, the Bible says, and he adds no sorrow to it. Hallelujah. You will walk into this beautiful garden, you will skip with the Most High. You will dance. Because He will add no sorrow to it, and He will make you rich. Don't envy anything that anyone has. God will bless you, He loves you, He will bless you, and you'll say, Oh, how can God bless me? He's the creator of heaven and earth. The Bible says the catalyst is the gold is his, the silver is his, the planet is his, the heavenly treasures are his. And if you are his, why will he not give it to you? But as I said, you have to put your trust in him, you have to put your faith in him, you have to have a relationship with him. You can't just be in the vine without being with him every day. I have a garden, and if you don't water those plants for five days, they're done. It's as simple as that. It's actually two and a half days, depending on the weather. So, depending on your situations in life, if you're not connected to Jesus, I want to tell you, maybe that aspect will wither. And most of you have got it this morning, and I know it in my spirit, and praise God for that. This word was only for that, this word is for you. Hallelujah. I'd like to pray.

Blessing Without Sorrow And Closing Prayer

SPEAKER_00 27:50

Dear Lord, I thank you for this beautiful word. Your double-edged sword that does not go back until it has achieved what it has been set out for. Thank you, Jesus, for watching over your word to perform it. I thank you, Jesus, that people are leaving their envy and some of those ill feelings at your feet, that you may take control and protect our hearts. We put our faith in you, we put our trust in you. We turn to you, O Lord. We're only human. And we turn to you to make our hearts like yours and to protect our heart from envy and jealousy, Lord. I thank you, Lord, that you're taking some of that far away from people. Thank you, Jesus. Jealousy and envy has no place. In your name and through your name, we are safe. Under your wings we take refuge. Great is our inheritance. Thank you, Lord, that you you are blessing us, aligned with your word. For those who put their trust in you, you're blessing them in every area of life, may it be finances, health, relationships, jobs, vehicles, restaurants, barns. The floodgates of heaven are opening for those who put their trust in you. You're making them rich. Amen. Hallelujah. And you add no sorrow to it. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord, for bones are being restored. Thank you, Lord, for bodies that are getting renewed. Because envy, jealousy has been crushed in your name through your blood. We leave all this at your feet, Lord. Change a heart, make it ever true. Change your heart that we meet that we may be like you. Some people are opening the doors unto you, Lord, that you will sit and suffer them. Hallelujah. It's a beautiful day. Thank you for the beautiful wisdom that comes from your throne. Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful blessings.