What Envy Does to Your Soul

It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others. When we see someone with a bigger house, a better job, a more fulfilling marriage, more talented or attractive children, a happier life — any of these things can trigger pangs of envy.

This temptation is especially dangerous when it comes to envying wicked people—those who reject God yet seem to prosper. “Why do they have it so easy?” we ask. “Why is God blessing them while I struggle?” This isn’t a new question. In Malachi 3:15, God rebukes His people for saying, “Evildoers not only prosper, but they put God to the test and they escape.”

Think about the wicked people you’re tempted to envy. Maybe they’re wealthy, successful, or living carefree lives. But what you’re seeing is only the surface. Psalm 73 describes this temptation in detail. The psalmist confesses, “For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3). But then he remembers their end: “Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin” (Psalm 73:18). Their prosperity is fleeting. Their success is a house of cards.

Envy reveals a misplaced focus. When we fixate on the lives of the wicked, we take our eyes off Christ and convince ourselves that their rebellious lifestyle is preferable to a life of surrender to Christ. This reveals a profound ingratitude for what God has given us. Not just his material blessings, but the grace of being his child, of knowing his law, and the blessings that come with obeying it.

We forget that our inheritance isn’t in this world but in the next. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

At the root of this envy is a deep discontentment with God’s providence. It’s an unacknowledged, heart-level accusation against God. Instead of trusting His goodness, we compare ourselves to unbelievers and conclude that God treats them better than us. When we envy the wicked, we’re essentially saying, “God, you’re not running the world properly. You’re blessing the wrong people.”

The Bible calls this coveting, a violation of the Tenth Commandment. Coveting isn’t just about wanting what someone else has; it’s about resenting them for having it. Proverbs 14:30 puts it bluntly: “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” Envy eats away at your soul. Envy is rottenness in your bones. It breeds bitterness, fuels grumbling, and blinds you to the blessings God has already given you.

Gratitude is the Antidote to Envy

So how do we combat envy? The antidote is gratitude. Gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have. And everything you have is something that God has provided. Start by thanking God for your salvation, your family, your church, and even the small blessings we often overlook. Gratitude starves envy of its power by reminding you of God’s goodness.

Another way to fight envying the wicked is to remind yourself of what scripture says about them. Their apparent prosperity is not a sign of divine favor. In fact, it may be the opposite. Romans 2:4 warns that God’s kindness is meant to lead people to repentance, but if they reject it, they are storing up wrath for themselves. That’s a sobering thought.

Finally, remember that your struggles have a purpose. God uses trials to refine your faith, draw you closer to Him, and prepare you for eternity. While the wicked may seem to escape hardship now, their ease is temporary. As a believer, your reward is eternal. Fix your eyes on Christ, not on the fleeting success of those who reject Him.