A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones
Proverbs 14:30
When I was applying to college I got in to my dream schools.
I didn’t come from a wealthy family, though. I ended up not being able attend unless I were to take out massive amounts of loans.
Luckily my parents warned me early on about the danger of getting in to debt, so I decided not to do that. I went to a small state school, and made the best of what I had. But I felt like I was still missing out. I saw people I knew who didn’t work as hard as me attend the schools I wanted to go to.
Because of my disappointment I began to deeply resent the “rich kids” who got every opportunity I didn’t get simply because their parents paid for it.
I felt like they didn’t value their education the way that I did. They would spend their nights at parties and at the bars and I would spend mine in the library cultivating my mind because I was hungry for knowledge.
What I realized was that my anger and cry for “equality” wasn’t rooted in “justice” but in envy. I hated those who I saw as better than me because I felt cheated and threatened.
The weight of this envy was almost all consuming. I realized that God didn’t call me to be envious but to live at peace. I saw first hand the reality of this truth: “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” Proverbs 14:30.
I repented of my envy and started being thankful for what I DID have. Now I can move forward to make changes in our world/educational system from a place that’s rooted in peace and gratitude and not from a place of envy.
At a societal level, we can’t let our policies be rooted in envy, but in liberty and justice. A lot of people have arbitrarily tried to simplify and categorize equality in simply human terms and often based on outward appearances. But doesn’t
God say it’s evil to make such judgements based on outward appearance?
“If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man “You must stand,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?” James 2:3-5
“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
One thing I love about the Cross is that it puts all of humanity on a level playing field. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
I’m all about justice. But if it’s coming from a place in our hearts that isn’t motivated by the Holy Spirit we should tread lightly. We have to kill envy at its root if we want to be effective. As Lewis says, “[it] can produce that “stunted and envious sort of mind… it will kill us all if it grows unchecked”
God cares about justice. But He cares about the details and health of our own heart to.
Ecclēsia 