Envy, like vainglory, is a disordered desire. Somebody has received something, some gift or advantage or benefit, that you would like to have. That doesn't necessarily make you envious. The desire to succeed or to win or to be chosen is a good desire when it inspires you to imitate someone who is worth imitating. But that desire becomes twisted when it is tinged with resentment toward the person who has what you don't. That’s what makes it envy.
The Green-Eyed Monster
James 4:1-2
July 31, 2016 • Gary Brandenburg
More from
Deadly Virtues
Set The Table
September 4, 2016 • Randy Thompson
About five years ago, or so, a new phenomenon creeped into social media. It began with Facebook, spilled over into Instagram, and now is a part of every social networking experience – no matter what app you use. You can’t go online and look at the lives of the people you follow – your friends or your family or even complete strangers – without seeing a picture of . . . someone’s food. Pictures of food are everywhere. Breakfast? Facebook. Lunch? Insta. Dinner? Twitter. Cookout? Snapchat. But the worst offender? I mean – we all know it – the worst offender is brunch. Personally, I don’t go to brunch. I don’t really need to. I’ve seen so many pictures of someone else’s brunch, I feel like I can brunch vicariously through everyone else.
The Poisoning of the Will
August 28, 2016 • Gary Brandenburg
"The best defense is a good offense." That is not only the Strategic Offensive Principle in warfare but it is also true when it comes to http://football...and sin. Rather than allowing the seven deadly sins kill us, the Bible says we can actually put sin to death. We can kill sin. "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Ro. 8:13). By depending on the Holy Spirit and practicing the virtues that are the antidotes to sin, we can experience abundant life. Today we come to the sixth of the seven deadly sins, sloth. Just in time for the kick-off of Couch Potato Season.
Pleasure's Empty Promise
August 21, 2016 • Gary Brandenburg
On one of our trips to Israel I encountered a powerful temptation of biblical proportions. We were staying at the Dead Sea. Everyone decided to take a dip in that saline-saturated water so I took the elevator to my room on the 12th floor to change into my bathing suit. As I was returning to the elevator I looked down and, to my surprise, I could see a woman on the roof of a smaller hotel who was sunning herself - every inch of herself! When I spotted the naked woman from my perch above I did what any man after God's own heart would do - I stopped in my tracks to get a better look. I wasn't stopping to pray for her. In that moment an amazing thing happened. It was like the Holy Spirit poked me in the ribs because I suddenly thought, "Wait a minute. I know this story. When a man in this country spots a naked woman from a roof top, bad things happen." And with that, I smiled and quickly walked to the elevator.