Proverb: A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Envy is a subtle form of hate—resenting the good and rejoicing in the bad that occurs to one’s neighbor. It is a social sin, hurting our relationships and squelching joy as it maximizes others’ good fortune and minimizes the blessings, we ourselves enjoy. Envy makes us miserable because it causes us to weigh and rank and compare, making our neighbors into competitors and our own blessings a prize to be boasted, rather than a gift to be shared. How can we cultivate kindness rather than allowing envy to take hold?

Pastor Mary’s message is based on Genesis 4: 1-16.