Envy (phthonos) is "the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others. When used in an evil sense, phthonos and zelos (zeal or jealousy) may be distinguished as: 'envy,' desire to deprive another of what he has, 'jealousy,' desire to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 204). Webster's Universal College Dictionary defines envy as "a feeling of resentful discontent, begrudging admiration, or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, possessions, or attainments; desire for something possessed by another."

The Harm Envy Can Do

1. Envy hinders the spread of the gospel. Envy from within and without will surely hinder the spread of the gospel. Within the Lord's body, many preachers are forced to use some of their precious time defending themselves against false accusations from envious preachers. Faithful preachers are to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;" (2 Timothy 4:2) They have to do their work while it is day, for when the night comes, no one can work (John 9:4).
   
   All workers in the Lord's vineyard should "lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking," and " walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (1 Peter 2:1; Romans 13:13) Soldiers of Christ must unite and join hands to fight the real enemies of the truth--those outside the body of Christ. When Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, they met the envious Jews who tried to hinder God's power to save. "...many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." (Acts 13:43-45) The same thing happened when Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-5).
   
   
2. Envy hinders the growth of preachers, Christians, and the local church. When the preacher is envious, he will not grow; the Christians he is teaching will not grow; and finally, the local congregation where he preaches will not grow spiritually or numerically. This is true in the Philippines, and it is this writer's personal observation. Many preachers try their best, through sleepless nights, to prepare and produce outlines to help other preachers who want to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), but many do not benefit because of envious preachers. Not only do they themselves not want to use the outlines (which is their right); worse, they discourage others from using them. Paul told Timothy: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing but doting about questions and strife of words, whereby cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising." (1 Timothy 6:3-4) In Peter's first epistle, he admonished the Christians in general: "Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:1,2)
   
   
3. Envy hinders those who wish to inherit God's kingdom. The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, revealed that those who practice the works of the flesh couldn't inherit God's kingdom. Envy is one of these works of the flesh.
   
   To better understand, we will listen to what Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." This Scripture passage does not say that if we commit all these sins, we will disinherit the kingdom; one is enough.
   
   
4. Envy qualifies one for spiritual death. When Paul wrote to the saints at Rome, he mentioned 22 works of unrighteousness, including envy that can make us worthy of death. For the reader's convenience, this is what Paul said: "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:29-32)
   
   
5. Envy is a sign of carnality. "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3) "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish." (James 3:14,15) We must remember that to be carnally minded is death, and the carnal mind is enmity against God. Listen to Paul, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..." (Romans 8:6,7).
   
   

Some Baits the Devil Uses to Encourage Envy

As requested by the editor, this portion deals with reasons why some preachers in the Lord's vineyard are envious and will offer some Scriptural remedies. Let it be known that the things mentioned here are purely the writer's observations; documentation cannot be supplied. Readers are free to agree or disagree, also based on their own personal observations. Let it also be known that if there are preachers whose lives and acts will soon be mentioned, you are not in this writer's mind. I write with love for those concerned, as they are victims of the devil's bait to encourage envy. Though the problem might be universally applicable, here we will deal with Philippine settings. Following are some of the baits:

1. Abilities. The Lord needs many workers in his kingdom, for the fields are white and ready to harvest. (John 4:35) God gives each and every one of his workers talents according to the worker's ability (Matthew 25:14-15). The Lord's church, which is his body (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23), "has many members..., and all members have not the same office." (Romans 12:4) Preachers have various abilities. Each has the ability to lead singing, write tracts, outline sermons, edit magazines, communicate, translate, and/or interpret, etc. When Paul said: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1 Corinthians 3:6) he was referring to the different abilities every worker possesses but must work in harmony for God's glory.
   
   What is sad to note at this point is the fact that there are preachers who envy others' abilities. They pretend to know everything about preaching and are not honest enough to accept their limitations. I state the following observations without names or locations to help all concerned:
   
   
   1. An American brother spoke to a Filipino preacher about having his tracts translated into the native tongue.
      
      The Filipino brother read the tracts and found their contents to be very helpful, so the two arranged for the translation. When other Filipino preachers, "supposing that gain is godliness," (1 Timothy 6:5), knew of the American brother's plan, the translation plan immediately changed. The American brother requested that the first preacher with whom he spoke translate two of his tracts and that other Filipino preachers translate the others. The first Filipino preacher was happy to know that others are willing to share the load and understood the American's intention to avoid envy. Now, after seven or eight years, only three (two by the Filipino first contacted and one by two different Filipino preachers) of the ten tracts have been translated. Truly, envy hinders Gospel's spread.
      
      
   2. Visiting American preachers are aware that many Filipino saints cannot fully understand the English language, so they use translators and/or interpreters. Few Filipinos with the ability to translate and/or interpret are being requested. This creates no small problem for both. There were occasions when envious preachers threatened not to attend the meeting or welcome the Americans in their local congregations if the translators are with them. Again, this is a sign of immaturity and envy.
      
      
   3. The few Filipino preachers who have the ability to write tracts, outline sermons, write articles, and edit magazines are hesitant to develop their talents because of other envious preachers. One brother made an effort to write truth tracts, prepare outlines, and write some articles for a nationwide magazine. Envious preachers discouraged others from reading and distributing the tracts or using the outlines for teaching. They said that the responsible brother wanted only to make his name known, especially to the Americans. The brother, contrary to what the envious preachers thought, continued his efforts with the sole motive of glorifying God. The good result, however, is felt by the brother who has received requests for distribution copies from the different parts of the country.
      
      
2. Financial support. The fact remains that the Philippine work is rapidly growing because of financial support from outside the country, especially the United States, donated to preachers. This is a blessing to the Filipinos who wish to give their full time to the work of saving souls. But the devil, whose work is to hinder the truth, uses very attractive baits to make other preachers envious. When an envious preacher knows that another brother is receiving support, he moves to either get that support for himself or cut it. Because of envy and jealousy, the sin of lying follows. Envious preachers usually agree among themselves to fabricate and make false accusations against innocent and faithful preachers. What is sometimes hurtful is that they succeed because of their number, but many times they fail.
   
   

Some Scriptural Remedies

Regarding preachers' abilities, one should not forget the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:15). If one preacher has more abilities than another, he should thank the Lord for what he has. Peter said, "As every man has received the gift; even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10) As members of the Lord's body, preachers should do what they can according to the ability they have (1 Corinthians 12:14-21) and should remember "those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary." (v. 22) Every preacher has an obligation and a duty to love other preachers and value their abilities for helping the Lord's body grow. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul said: "But speaking the truth in Jove, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Financial support is a blessing from God, according to his own grace and mercy. While it is Scriptural for a preacher to receive wages or support for his labors (Philippians 4:15-18; 2 Corinthians 11:8; 1 Corinthians 7,9,14; 1 Timothy 5:18), money should not be the sole motive for preaching; preaching is not for money. It is the divine work of saving souls (Romans 1: 16; 1 Corinthians 9:16). When one commits to enroll himself in our Master's service, he must be willing to sacrifice and trust the Lord as Paul said: "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:8)

Preachers who want to serve the Lord and go to heaven should not entertain the love of money in their hearts, "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." (1 Timothy 6:10) Preachers who love men's souls will learn, as Paul said, to: "labor working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it." (1 Corinthians 4:12) Paul engaged himself in tent making so he could continue to preach the gospel (Acts 18:3), and he learned in whatever state--in abundance or in need--he found himself, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11-13).

Financial support from another Christian, or from a congregation, comes according to God's own pleasure. I have been preaching the gospel for 19 years. Eight months before receiving support to work full time, I worked with my hands to support my family and the Lord's work. One advantage of working full time is that you can accomplish more work. Preachers who have little or no support must thank the Lord for the opportunity He has given them to be included among the workers in the most rewarding job in the world-saving souls. Get away from the devil's baits. Do not be envious, but look ahead to the land beyond.

Conclusion

God has given fair warning to all, and preachers should not forget "the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou shall be cut off." (Romans 11:22) May every preacher learn to love all gospel preachers. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." {1 Corinthians 13:4-7}

---

Brother Carpentero is one of the Philippine preachers that the Knollwood Church helps to support. I've worked with brother Carpentero on two different occasions. He is a very hard-working, capable preacher. He is one of the men we use for a translator. This article was written for a bimonthly Philippine paper called The Sword & Shield. Brother Lordy G. Salunga, who preaches in Angles City, is the editor of the paper. From time to time I include some of the articles from this paper in the Messenger. It has been my privilege to work with some very fine and dedicated Philippine men. Most of them have little or no support. Brother Carpentero has addressed a real problem brought on by poverty among the Filipino preachers. May God help the Philippine preachers to work together to spread the boarders of His kingdom in their country. Keep these good men in your minds and in your prayers. (KMG)