The Cathedral Close

Jealousy is cruel as the grave; and envy again is a form of sin which is alike foolish and wrong.  Envy is foolish, for the envious cannot be really happy; and wrong, for we ourselves cannot but condemn it as such. Sins such as these have their root and starting-point in pride.

No one will be jealous of another who is more highly praised than himself, or who receives more notice and attention than himself, unless he is proud, and expects everyone to admire and praise him alone. Again, no one will be envious of the greater prosperity or greater success of another, unless he is vain enough to think that no one deserves prosperity or success so much as himself.

Jealousy and envy involve, in fact, a feeling of complaint against Divine Providence.  The jealous and the envious alike fly in the face of God, and find fault with His Divine government of the world.

Both these sins are apt to grow and give birth to sins greater, perhaps, than themselves.  No true follower of our Lord Jesus Christ can allow either of these sins to have a place within him long. For the principle of our Lord’s life was one which especially contradicted such faults as these. He was meek and lowly in heart, and He took the form of a servant, although He is the Creator and Lord of all.

Happiness depends upon what we are in ourselves rather than upon what we have in our possession, or upon what station in life we occupy. But for the jealous there is little rest; for the envious there is little peace.

Both are of necessity restlessly anxious lest others should take precedence of themselves, either in place or in the estimation of others. He, therefore, who is wise will endeavour by God’s grace to keep himself free from jealousy and envy. The path of obedience to the will of God is always the way of peace and joy.

Prayer

O Lord Jesu Christ, who didst humble Thyself for our salvation, and that Thou mightest by Thine example lead us in the way of peace; grant me grace that I may follow in Thy footsteps, and be a partaker of Thy joy, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost art blessed and glorified for ever and ever. Amen.