Financial Stronghold – Envy

Are you caught in a financial stronghold?

Strongholds are false beliefs and bad philosophies. It’s easy to get trapped when it comes to money. Envy is a financial stronghold that’s tucked far away for no one else 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’s that yucky attitude you have when you think of all the nicer things your neighbor has than you have. Oh, we may not want their things for ourselves, but we’re sure not happy that they have them! Envy is traditionally considered one of the 7 deadly sins. It’s a form of self-idolatry. Dante defined envy as “a desire to deprive others of theirs”. In Dante’s Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is having their eyes sewn shut with wire because they gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low. Aquinas described envy as “sorrow for another’s good.”

So let’s get practical. We have envy when we can’t be happy for others and what they have. We keep the attitude private because we know it’s wrong to resent the others having something better or nicer than ourselves. Now it doesn’t matter whether it’s a brother, sister, boss, or a neighbor. Recognize that social media fuels it. Freedom from this stronghold occurs when we learn to thank God for what He’s provided for us and for others. Repent of envy when others prosper. Learn to be content with what God has entrusted to you and you’ll escape this dark prison.

Envy can lead to major money problems. Our budget coaching program can help. Simply go to crown.org and click on the Get Help Now tab, and if you want to become a volunteer budget coach, we need your help to serve the growing demand. We’ll provide all the training! Go to crown.org to learn how you can get started.