Love Does Not Envy, It Does Not Boast

by Brandy Webb

Do you ever have problems with what people call the “green-eyed monster”? I know I do. It is hard not to with all of the advertisements out there telling you how much “happier” you would be if you had this or that. Or how about when you are going through a trial and someone you know seems to be just having a grand life?

The thing is, I know that, for me, it is sometimes hard to not have envy, but love does not envy (1 Corinthians 4:13). My husband made an awesome point the other day. He said, “Why do you envy? Is it because you wish you had more, so that you could boast about it?”

Ouch, harsh! But in a way it is a true statement. What are the real reasons behind our envious thoughts? Is it so we can boast about what we have or accomplished?

Love does not boast (1 Corinthians 4:13). I have heard a lot of Christian boastful statements. I do not mean confident statements, but boastful bragging statements of how great they are because they are Christians. We have nothing to boast about at all. Only God calls those in this time, and we are only called by His mercy and His grace, not because of anything we did (2 Timothy 1:9).

In fact, “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, GNT).

We want to walk with the Messiah in our life. We are striving to make it to the Kingdom of God. The only way we will make it is if we are love; we show love; we live love. So, the next time you find that ugly green boastful monster trying to creep in on you, shine the light of love at it. It will run away.