Green with ENVY

I wasn't able to get back into the QT yesterday, however, I think I did a fairly good job covering the topic. This week proves to be a tough week with me taking a class from 8am to 5pm Monday thru Friday. And with my paper-route, I need as much time to muster up some sleep as possible. I am sure Friday I will look like the walking dead. In the end I am sure it will be all worth it. Only time will tell, I guess.
Today's topic is ENVY. I can't say that I have ever studied this one out. I know I have looked at a number of others on this list, but envy, I don't think I can say that...
So, what is ENVY?

Envy (noun):

• Spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins).
• A feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another.
• A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
• A feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

Proverbs 3:31-32

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Proverbs 14:30

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

Proverbs 23:17

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 24:1-2

Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

Matthew 27:15-18

Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

Mark 7:20-23

He [Jesus] went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

1st Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is patient, love is kind. It [love] does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Envy: phthonos (pronounced: fthon'-os):

• Ill will (as detraction), that is, jealousy (spite): - envy.
• Envy; for envy, i.e. prompted by envy.

Envy: zēloō (prnounced: dzay-lo'-o):

• To have warmth of feeling for or against: - affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous (-ly affect).
• To burn with zeal; to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger; to desire earnestly, pursue; to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one’s self about him; to exert one’s self for one (that he may not be torn from me); to envy

These are two envies, first from Galatians and the second from 1st Corinthians. I am now finding it hard to focus with my son sitting in my lap and crawling all over me for attention. What I found interesting, though, was in Proverbs how envy and being zealous for God are opposites. It makes sense when you think about it, zeal for self would look like "looking out for #1" and trying to collect as much stuff as possible, like the best house and the best car... zeal for God is thinking about others. It just makes sense. Johnny Out.

Only 11 more QTs until #600. I would like so much to get 600 past me. One thing I noticed a little bit ago is that I have already had more than twice the amount of postings from last month (3). It just goes to show the lack of commitment I had...
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