2 Tips to Overcoming Envy and Live a Happy and Peaceful Life

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:30

Envy is thought to be a natural human tendency. It is desiring what others have and having that feeling of being deprived.

Envy is synonymous with covetousness. That’s my simple definition of envy.

Some confuse envy with jealousy.

For example, a person would comment on a social media post about his friend’s travel, food, or plant photos, “Oh, I’m jealous!” However, the word should have been “envious.”

Social media has “hyperventilated” people’s enviousness because anyone can post and exhibit things, travel, achievements, etc.

The envious “green” eyes see things differently.

A simple, innocent post could mean many things to a person consumed with envy.

Also, some envious hearts use social media to see what the “Joneses” have acquired lately and think of ways to keep up with them. This is a sad situation.

Perhaps psychology experts could define more, like the whys and the hows of enviousness. But that’s not the focus of this article.

If there is one thing that makes me happy and gives me peace of mind, I have always overcome envy.

Let me share two tips on overcoming envy. I use these tips when it starts to creep in, or an envious person tempts me.

1. Focus on possessing Godly values

I grew up in a family with not much material wealth or possession. My parents are both rural or town pastors.

My mum later became a public school teacher. That helped improve our economic situation, but there is so much to aspire to materially as I grew up.

However, we were taught to focus on what the Lord has given us and be thankful for it.

Faith in God’s provision is one primary thing that I have early on.

As a child, I have learned to trust His Providence, and what I desire will be given as the Lord wills.

Apart from John 3:16, the verse I have memorised and believed reasonably since I was a kid is Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.“

Integrity is one big thing that I learned from my parents.

Primary to building integrity is the virtue of honesty. Integrity is not about being perfect but having the courage and honesty to admit mistakes and failures.

I grew up with my parents emphasising the importance of integrity in dealing with people.

2. A.S.K.E.D. your God-given Gifts

Yes, “ASKED” the Lord God’s gifts for you. It stands for:

• Ask
  • Seek
    • Knock
      • Empower
        • Develop

Searching and finding your God-given gifts will divert you from focusing on what others have that you don’t have. It will prevent you from becoming envious.

I believe that God has endowed us with gifts, and what we need to do is ask, seek, and knock as Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.“

Once you have discovered your gift or gifts, you must empower and develop yourself to use these God-given gifts.

Then, do not limit these gifts to yourself. For gifts to be appreciated more and celebrated more, you have to share them.

You must empower and develop others.

Selfishness breeds envy, but selflessness cultivates generosity.

Closing thoughts

Friends, I have applied these tips throughout my life, giving me happiness and fulfilment. They have enabled me to be happy with others’ successes and achievements.

Furthermore, throughout my life, I learned that no person is ever complete. There is always something lacking in each one of us despite our strive to be self-sufficient in everything. I’m sure you, too, have observed this.

That’s why in the Christians’ fellowship table, we gather to share and complement or complete one another’s lack.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

You will never envy when you are assured that you possess God-given gifts and know that you have something that others won’t ever have, which you share generously.