Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.

Even as I was wondering why this section got included in readings on Hope, I was torn between righting on this verse or on verse 34, which is rightly famous. However, this verse touches on what is a major societal disease at this point, so here goes. Envy takes many forms. It is closely related to jealousy, and the difference could be said to be semantic, though most languages with which I’m familiar have two different words. The issue is comparison, and the desire for personal gain and/or superiority. The problem arises when we feel someone else has it better than we do. It is the driving force behind socialism/communism, whatever noble-sounding claims might be made. That is particularly evident in the US right now. Capitalism has given the US a standard of living that is unprecedented. Even homeless people in the US today live better than the vast majority of people throughout human history, and “lower middle class” people live lives of what would have been almost unimaginable luxury just a few centuries ago. We take all that for granted, and as a result, some people manipulate that for their own political gain. This isn’t limited to the US by any means. There’s a political poster here in Japan that I see almost every day that says, in English, “Tax the Rich.” Not surprisingly, it’s printed by the Japan Communist Party. There are many problems with all of that, but one of the most fundamental is that there is no happiness without gratitude, and that is the “peaceful heart” this verse talks about. As Dennis Prager has said many times, it’s very hard to find a happy Leftist! Paul put it this way: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) That’s the opposite of envy! If we think we are entitled to being given the world on a silver tray, we will never be happy. Jesus was very blunt about it: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) That “trouble” often includes having less of something desirable than someone else might have, but envy will do you no good. If it is genuinely desirable, then applying yourself to work toward acquiring it can be of great benefit on many levels, but envy is destructive.

I don’t think I have a very envious personality, and I’m grateful. I feel I have been blessed incredibly, and though I have had my struggles with pride, I now realize it’s all God’s grace. There are lots of things, both material and immaterial, that might be nice to have, but at the same time, I realize that I have many things that others don’t have, so I’m in no position to complain. I think that realization is the “peaceful heart” this verse is talking about. I wouldn’t trade my marriage for all of Elon Musk’s wealth! In some ways I feel sorry for him, because he has fathered children with four different women, and can certainly support them financially, but he has no life partner, no actual family environment. That’s sad. I’m not to parade my blessings, but I am to seek to help others recognize theirs, so that they too may live in gratitude, opening their hearts to the One who provides it all for us, whether we deserve it or not.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You again for Your incredible grace toward me. May I respond appropriately to that grace, not just in gratitude but in full obedience, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!