Charity and its fruits by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Lecture VI (Charity inconsistent with an envious spirit).
Now we are taught that charity, or a truly Christian Spirit, is the very opposite of an envious spirit.
Firstly Edwards shows what is the nature of an envious spirit. It is manifest in:
(i) an uneasiness and dissatisfaction with the prosperity of others;
(ii) a dislike of their persons for it.
Secondly Edwards demonstrates wherein a Christian spirit is the opposite of an envious spirit. A Christian spirit:
(i) disallows the exercise and expression of envy;
(ii) mortifies envy's principle and disposition in the heart;
(iii) disposes us to rejoice in the prosperity of others.
Thirdly we are given reasons and evidence why it is that a Christian spirit is the opposite of a spirit of envy:
(i) a spirit and practice entirely contrary to an envious spirit is much insisted on in the precepts of Christ;
(ii) these precepts are strongly enforced by the doctrines and history of the gospel;
(iii) the true spirit of Christian love will dispose us to yield to the authority of these precepts, and to the influence of the motives enforcing them.
Finally, some concluding exhortations are made. The subject of envy:
(i) should lead us to examine ourselves whether we are in any degree under the influence of an envious spirit;
(ii) exhorts us to disallow and put away everything approaching to an envious spirit.
Great description of what envy is: 'Envy may be defined to be a spirit of dissatisfaction with and opposition to the prosperity and happiness of others as compared with our own. The thing that the envious person is opposed to and dislikes, is, the comparative superiority of the state of honor, or prosperity or happiness, that another may enjoy, over that which he possesses. And this spirit is especially called envy, when we dislike and are opposed to another's honor or prosperity, because, in general, it is greater than our own, or because, in particular, they have some honor or enjoyment that we have not. It is a disposition natural in men, that they love to be uppermost ; and this disposition is directly crossed, when they see others above them. And it is from this spirit, that men dislike and are opposed to the prosperity of others, because they think it makes those who possess it, superior, in some respect, to themselves. And from this same disposition, a person may dislike another's being equal to himself in honor or happiness, or in having the same sources of enjoyments that he has ; for as men very commonly are, they cannot bear a rival, much, if any better than a superior, for they love to be singular and alone in their eminence and advancement.'
I must admit that if that is what envy is, then it is all too common in my heart. May the Lord replace it with love.
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