Envy Rots Our Bones
Envy is a sneaky sin. It doesn’t appear to have an associated act… at least not at first. It is a sin that dwells in desire, in the heart, and as such it has an incredible ability to creep. To slowly seep into corners and cracks and crevices. It oozes in under doors and at the edges of windows. We ignore it — if we see it at all. We’re not “doing” anything, after all. It’s all in our heads. Proverbs 14:30 says that envy makes the bones rot. And just like any rot, if you are not proactive, you may not realize the extent of the damage until it becomes very costly.
Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Pilate knew the Jewish leaders delivered Jesus up to be crucified out of envy. Envy doesn’t remain a desire issue for long. And this reminds us of our need to confess our sins.
Prayer of Confession
Father, we confess that we have a rot in our bones brought by envy. We want what we do not have — materially and relationally — in a way that spurns your sovereignty and kindness to us. We reject your good gifts and curse the way you knitted us together in our mother’s wombs. Oh God, please forgive us. Please forgive us for endlessly scrolling — eyes downcast, looking for something we can’t define — ignoring the life and good works you have prepared for us to walk in. We have robbed ourselves of joy — of delighting together with our brothers and sisters in their blessings because we have harbored an ugly discontentment. This is sin, Lord, and we confess this sin and any others that you might call to mind in this moment of silence.
