The Green I’ed Monster

2/27/20

Prov. 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? (KJV)

Envy is a slow-moving discontentment.    We may envy someone’s possessions, achievements or advantages but regardless the reaction and attitude are the same.  While wrath and anger may subside after a minute or a month, the bulldozer of envy may last for years or decades.    

We live in an interesting age.  We have more money, more time saving devices, more conveniences, more luxuries than perhaps anyone in any other age.  The richest of kings of old couldn’t afford to travel at 70 mph in an air-conditioned car in sweltering July heat.  Yet we are not a content people. 

We are not content with our things nor can we enjoy them.  We want MORE.

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You are in the department store; the children rush to the toy section.  Mommy, I want this, everyone else at school has one except me.  (Translates: My two best friends have this particular toy that is why I want it.)  You realize that back at home there are two closets full of toys you have bought your child.  Yet they want this toy.  All of the money you have spent on those toys is down the drain they don’t play with them anymore.  In fact, the children don’t even want to play with their toys.  They want to play with yours.  I can remember when my brothers little toddler learned how to operate the VCR, (ancient technology).   He wanted to play with the cassette tape slot in the front.  It was a great for placing odds and ends, like the remote control, or a peanut butter sandwich or whatever would fit in there.  I find it odd that now we will let a 2-year-old play with a $500 phone to keep them quiet.  I guess children don’t break or throw things anymore. 

Children aren’t programed for contentment.  The ever proclaimed phrase of the younger sibling,  “It’s not fair”.  We need to teach our children to be content but sadly we play the hypocrite because sometimes we (I) am not content.  I see what people on Facebook have or are doing and envy begins to develop.  I fall victim to the green I’ed monster. 

Paul realized this when he wrote:   Philippians 4:11  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (ESV)

Notice that he said, “I Have Learned”.   Paul reminds us that the cure for envy doesn’t come instinctively or naturally.   Paul gives us some tools to overcome envy when he wrote to Timothy saying to him,  1 Timothy 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (ESV)

So, Paul how do you keep the green I’ed monster away. 

1. Realize that temporal things are just that, Temporal.

I read years ago this simple illustration.  Nobody decorates an elevator for a 30 second trip.  Sounds silly doesn’t it… but how long will you live on earth compared with where you will spend eternity?

2. Be content with what you have.

 I cleaned out my sock drawers yesterday.  I have a drawer for white socks (everyday) and for black socks (Sunday or special events needing a suit).  I pulled out all the black socks and was dumbfounded to realize that I had over 23 pair.   Why do I need that many?   Will they be part of my children’s inheritance?   My accumulation of things is a most distracting endeavor.

3. Seek after godliness. 

Solomon asked who can stand before envy? Few if any will totally overcome envy. But I think pointing out the problem is first on the list to overcoming our discontent. Once we have identified our problem we can focus towards those things that will promote a contented lifestyle and attitudes. It’s easy for our eyes to wander with envy the new posts or published tweets. It’s more difficult to seek a grateful and thankful heart that is generated by reading of God’s wondrous workings in the pages of scripture. It’s simple to say that it is a matter of focus… but quite difficult to pull our head out of our app and put it into book, chapter and verse. You will seldom find what you are not seeking. Few of us find envy easy to overcome. Perhaps we are not seeking the cure.

By the way if you need some socks… let me know.