You don’t need to invite envy and arrogance; they follow you everywhere, two evil spirits that came from hell. Wherever they go, they bring misunderstanding, anger, arguments, conflict, and even violence, because their goal is to break friendships and good relationships.
Envy and arrogance often dominate people without their knowledge, pulling them deeper into darkness every day. They make people believe they are superior to others, that they can speak badly, invent, act, destroy, slander, and forget that God in heaven sees everything.
Envy and arrogance put people against one another, and sometimes even against their own family, because the spirit of envy and arrogance respects no one and does not value human life. Whenever they find the chance, they destroy, infiltrate, and corrupt. Sometimes you see someone in a high position act strangely, and later you realize it is purely envy and arrogance, not politics or competition.
Look at what envy and arrogance did to Cain, and what they did to King Saul, and let’s not forget King Herod, who wanted all children killed when he heard a King was born; he could have killed the baby Jesus.
Now in our modern, busy times, envy and arrogance operate from youth. Ask yourself: who planted so much envy and arrogance in our youth?
It is very powerful, because they have no respect or mercy for others, and they do not value life. But despite envy and arrogance, the great love of God can overcome them in every way, because as God’s Word says, it must enter a person’s life, envy must be broken, and if it is not broken, the person must be set free, because even spiritual envy exists.
The blood of Christ Jesus has the power to break all envy and arrogance, freeing people to love God and their neighbors.
If you have bitter envy and selfishness in your heart, do not be arrogant, for that opposes the truth (James 3:14-16). Where envy and selfishness exist, there is disorder and all kinds of evil. Love is patient and kind, not jealous, boastful, or arrogant (1 Corinthians 13:4).
It is hard to truly love someone while arrogance makes your words uncontrollable, because envy and arrogance have no shame. From the heart come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, cruelty, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness (Mark 7:21-23).
Therefore, let us put aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently in daily life—not in partying, drunkenness, sexual immorality, quarrels, or envy. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:8-10). Anger is cruel, rage is like a flood, but who can stand against a jealous person? (Proverbs 27:4).
Written by: Pastor Marcel Balootje