Envy Condemns

As human beings it appears that we just cannot avoid comparing ourselves to other people. In every capacity we try measuring ourselves against our neighbors. This is the essence of the American expression, keeping up with the Jones’. Sometimes it urges us to work harder. More often than not, it creates envy in us. We feel some injustice has been done to us.

The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 20.1-16

When it comes to our relationship with God, the worst thing we can do is compare ourselves with others. Today’s Gospel lesson about envy makes the point. God can and will do as He pleases. It is impossible for God to treat be unjust. He is always fair to us.

He makes each of us a promise and then fulfills that promise without fail. To be clear, the Gospel lesson isn’t about money. It is about salvation. God has promised salvation to each of us, and He expects us to fulfill our part.

What would you think, if I told you that God has already decided to allow every human being ‘into’ heaven? Would you protest to Him like today’s Gospel lesson? “Hey God! How can you let ‘that person’ into heaven the same as me? Don’t you know I have been following you much longer? He was just baptized last week?”

The envy we feel when God blesses other people will be our condemnation in heaven. This is the lesson of the Gospel. Whether God allows everyone or no one ‘into’ heaven is His prerogative, and His alone.

Think of it for a moment just how caustic envy is. Instead of being thankful that God fulfilled His promise to us, we are angry He also let others ‘into’ heaven. Our envy blinds us to God’s goodness. Our envy hardens our hearts not only to God but to others.

We come to resent others, not because they were blessed. We resent them because we perceive they didn’t have to work ‘as hard’ as we did. We think, “Well! If I knew it was going to be THAT easy getting ‘into’ heaven, I wouldn’t have worked so hard.” Now imagine having this resentment for all eternity.

God is warning us to change our hearts. He is warning us to fight the temptation to compare ourselves with others. He is inviting us to see His love for what it is instead of what it isn’t. God’s love is always just. Our hearts are the unjust ones.

Leave envy behind you. Accept the promise God has given you and be thankful. Instead of feeling unfairly treated when someone else is blessed by God, share in their joy. You never know. They may have suffered longer than you, but you never knew it.

When we all get to heaven, that last thing we will want on our minds is envy for the others who are there with us. Instead, plan to see God’s love for others as another example of His promises being fulfilled. Then you will see His justice. Then you will be ‘in’ heaven rather than hell.