Envy, that ability to look at others blessings or trials and wish they were your own, has a horrible, internal effect on us. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” It eats us up from the inside. During the holidays, we are often tempted to envy the perceived blessings or even trials (which seem preferable to our own) of others.
Matthew Sims has an article called "Jesus is Better Than Season Envy." After pointing out that marriage and singleness both have certain blessings and trials, he notes that the solution to the problem of "season envy" is to find contentment in Christ. He writes,
Married men aren’t envying single friends because their life is so much better or so much easier—but because we’re not satisfied with Jesus. Single men aren’t envying their married friends because marriage makes life easy—but because we’re not satisfied with Jesus. If you feed season envy, you will carry that season envy into your next season of life regardless if it’s marriage or singleness.
As we have been learning in Ecclesiastes, God has ordained the seasons of our lives, and we ought to ask him for strength to enjoy our life and toil.
To combat envy, spend time gaining a "tranquil heart" (Prov. 14:30) by thanking God for your blessings and trials. Maybe write out a "thankful list" in which you note the spiritual and physical blessings and trials you can thank God for giving you (You might benefit from this article by Stacy Reoach at Desiring God). Where you find it hard to lay aside envy, ask God to give you "the power to enjoy" your lot in life (Ecc. 5:19). Finally, remember that the Lord is your shepherd, and you will not be left destitute of what you need (Ps. 23:1). Know for certain his goodness and never-giving-up love will chase you all the days of your life (Ps. 23:6).
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