“And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:4
The release of a limited-edition Valentine’s Day pink Stanley cup, being sold at Target and Starbucks, recently made the news – and not for positive reasons.
I will let an excerpt from a news article from mother.ly.com speak for itself: “This limited edition vacuumed-sealed cup led to overnight campouts, long lines, and chaos. There were fights and cops called over people cutting in line, shoving, pushing, and folks stealing cups out of customers’ bags.”
Three of the seven deadly sins – vanity, envy, and gluttony – can often go unnoticed in a Christian’s life. These sins begin as thoughts in the mind. But once these thoughts manifest into behaviors and actions, they can lead to the death of the soul.
The word “vanity” means excessive pride in or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements. Interestingly, the Latin word for “vanity” is “vanitas,” which means emptiness, futility, baselessness, uselessness, and worthlessness.
The sin of pride cultivated in Satan because of vanity, which led to his rebellion against God. Ezekiel 28:17 says, “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.”
The Bible encourages believers to meditate on, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” (Philippians 4:8) Vanity produces an over-inflated view of self. It clouds judgment, causing individuals to focus on things that are ultimately meaningless.
The purpose of a Christian life is to be outward-focused, to “not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16) “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:24) Vanity causes one to focus inward; to act, think, and behave in ways that only benefit or glorify the self.
The word “envy” means a feeling of resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck.
It was envy that ultimately triggered the religious leaders of Jesus’s day to call for His crucifixion and death. They were jealous of how Jesus affected and influenced the crowds of people – the same people they desired to control. Pontius Pilate was conflicted over having to officiate Jesus’s trial, “for he knew it was out of envy that they (the religious elite) had handed Jesus over to him.” (Matthew 27:18)
Envy can generate a sense of entitlement and feelings of hatred towards others, which can be detrimental for Christians. We are encouraged to remember that we are all created in God’s image and that we all serve an important purpose in the Kingdom; we should not compare ourselves to others. We cannot truly love God and love our neighbors – Jesus’s two greatest commandments – when we have jealousy and bitterness stirring in our hearts.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:13-16)
“Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the Word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-3)
The word “gluttony” traditionally refers to an excess in eating. But gluttony is so much more than food; it is a concept of habitual greed, of never being satisfied with what we have. When Christians live like the world lives, we will never be content. In vain, we will always be longing for the latest gadget, the latest technology, the latest designer brands…. the latest Stanley cup. One can never stay ahead in the endless race to keep up with the Joneses.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12)
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Proverbs 23:17-21)
“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19)
Desiring or owning a Stanley cup (I was gifted one for my birthday last year, and I love it!) in and of itself is not a sin. Our aspirations and possessions turn sinful when they carry more significance than obeying God’s Word and His calling for our lives. This can be challenging, even for believers, in the world in which we live – a world that is constantly streamed and scrutinized through social media and TikTok, arousing feelings of jealousy and inferiority as compared to our fellow man.
If we allow them to, our desires and thoughts will control us, and we will no longer be led by the Spirit. We must pray for restraint of our earthly emotions in this life, including those qualities that may initially go undetected. May we be aware of any vanity, envy, or gluttony secretly dwelling within us; once removed, a life of peace and joy awaits.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
