By Chuck Bentley

Strongholds are false beliefs and bad philosophies. These happen frequently when it comes to money.

Envy is a financial stronghold that is tucked far away for no one to see. Don’t think you have it? Envy is a feeling of discontentment or a resentful longing triggered by someone else’s possessions. It is that yucky attitude you have when you think of all the better things your neighbor has than you.  We may not want their things for ourselves, but we are not happy with what they have! Usually considered one of the 7 deadly sins, it is a form of self-Idolatry.

Dante defined envy as “a desire to deprive other men of theirs”. In Dante’s Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low. Aquinas described envy as “sorrow for another’s good.”

Remedy for Envy

Let’s get practical.  Envy is when you can’t be happy for what others have. You keep this attitude private because we know it is so ugly to think we are resentful that your brother or sister or boss or neighbor or worst enemy has something better or nicer than you.  To get freedom from this stronghold, learn to thank God for what He has provided for you and for others. Repent of your envy when others prosper. Learn to be content with what God has entrusted to you. You will escape this dark prison.

Originally posted 8/26/15. Click here for part 4.