In the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, the people who had worked all day were angry because those who worked far less were paid the same. Their employer questioned their envy: Why should you feel bad when something good happens to someone else?
Thousands vs. Ten Thousands
How easily we can become unsettled when we compare ourselves with others. Saul, who was king of Israel, heard that women across his country were singing, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." How could this be? He was the king; he was supposed to get the most "likes." He thought to himself,... Continue Reading →
Stripped of Pride, Stripped of Envy
There are some things we need to acquire as we prepare to meet God. There are also things we need to abandon. As Alma spoke to the people of Zarahemla, he specifically identified two things they needed to eliminate from their lives in order to be ready to be with God: Behold, are ye stripped... Continue Reading →
Why Are “Envyings” Associated with “Strife?”
The word "envying" or "envyings" appears ten times in the Book of Mormon. Nine of those times, it is followed immediately by "strife" or "strifes." These words are also closely associated in the New Testament. To envy another person is to resent them because of the perception that they have something that you lack. A... Continue Reading →