Bad to the Bone
by Joe R. Price

"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot" (Proverbs 14:30, ESV).

Physical health is affected by our state of mind. Health specialists promote a healthy state of mind as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. For good spiritual health, we must develop a heart that is free of envy. Solomon said envy destroys a person from the inside out. A heart full of envy destroys every vestige of contentment and sympathy from the heart. Envy is displeased by the advantage or prosperity of others. Envy is driven by covetous resentment that is only satisfied when the one it envies is deprived of what he or she has. It is like finding contentment when another person is robbed of the things you wish were yours. To overcome envy we must learn to be happy for others while being content with our own set of circumstances. To base one's fulfillment on another person's loss is not a healthy spiritual condition. It is sin, needing repentance to remedy. Being ruled by envy is rotten to the core.