A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. (Ecclesiastes 6:9 NLT)

Winston Churchill once said, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Many young people today are being hoodwinked by the gospel of envy.

The gospel of envy, like the Gospel of Christ, transforms our entire being. The former leading to moral corruption, the latter to ethical transformation. We often confuse envy and ambition. Envy seeks to take from others what we want for ourselves. Ambition, in its purest sense, endeavors to create things that make life better for ourselves and others. Envy limits initiative and retards innovation.  Socialist wait for others to create so that they can take. Yes, selfish ambition is condemned in the Bible, but not the desire to succeed. Ambition practiced with generosity for the glory of God is a good thing.

Envy always leads us to compare ourselves with others. It breads division between those we consider the haves and the have nots. We should never compare what we have with what others possess, but thankfully receive what God desires to give us, be that a little or a lot. Pride is extending its ugly tentacles down into your heart when you envy others. The moral compass of our faith must always direct the desire to succeed. Sanctified ambition always seeks the highest good for all concerned, including others and ourselves.

The gospel of envy always leads to moral corruption because It keeps us self-centered in our desires and selfish in our pursuits. The emerging generation can trumpet the high-sounding mantra of equality for all, but will receive the “equal sharing of misery.”

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]