Envy in Christian preaching is the sinful desire for what others have, often leading to bitterness and self-harm. It is depicted as a corrosive poison or a destructive fire that feeds on others' success, causing inner turmoil and strife (Proverbs 14:30, James 3:16). Illustrations use images of poison, fire, and self-inflicted wounds to convey envy’s harmful nature.
Envy delights in others' corruption rather than their good qualities.
As flies leave the sound, and light upon the corrupted and putrefied parts of the body, and so delight in the filth that it is hard to keep them from it; so an envious man has no pleasure in good qualities, but only in that which is diseased and corrupted. Cawdray.
The envious suffer more than the benevolent, who find peace in others' prosperity.
The benevolent have the advantage of the envious, even in this present life; for the envious is tormented not only by all the ill that befalls himself, but by all the good that happens to another: whereas the benevolent man is the better prepared to bear his own calamities unruffled, from the complacency and serenity he has secured from contemplating the prosperity of all around him. Colton.
Envy targets the best and breeds hatred, as seen in biblical examples.
Envy, like the worm, never runs but to the fairest fruit: like a cunning bloodhound, it singles out the fattest deer in the flock. Abraham's riches were the Philistines' envy; and Jacob's blessing bred Esau's hatred. J. Beaumont.
Envy causes a person to harm themselves to avoid another's greater gain.
There is a story of two men who dwelt in a certain city,—one very envious, and the other very covetous. The ruler of the city sent for them, promising that whatever they desired should be granted them, on the condition that he who asked first should have what he asked, and the other should have the same doubled. The envious man would not ask first, that the other might not have more than himself; but, being pressed, the envious man desired that one of his eyes might be pulled out, so that his companion might lose both of his. Spencer.
Rising glory provokes envy, which brings hatred and destructive consequences.
Rising glory occasions the greatest envy, as kindling fires the greatest smoke. Envy is the reverse of charity; and as that is the supreme source of pleasure, so this is of pain. Envy has under its banner hatred, calumny, treachery, with the meagreness of famine, the venom of pestilence, and the rage of war. Spencer.
Envy is deadly, harming both the envious and those envied.
The adder and the toad have deadly poison in them, which hurts others, but not themselves; but envy is so deadly, that it killeth him that hath it, and others also. The envious man frets and pines away when others do well. He cannot eat or sleep quietly, unless some mischief falls on the person he envies. Cawdray.
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