How is envy rottenness to the bones (Proverbs 14:30)?

Answer

Self-centeredness is the predominant attitude of all sin. Ironically, when we have an unhealthy inward focus—when life revolves around our own interests and desires, we set ourselves on a path to self-destruction. Envy is fueled by selfishness. It involves a bitter, dissatisfied longing to possess things, achievements, or successes that belong to others. The Bible is clear about envy’s self-destructive nature: “A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones” «A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones. », (Proverbs 14:30, NKJV). Some translations state that envy is “like cancer in the bones” (NLT) or “like bone cancer” (GW).

The Hebrew word translated as “envy” in Proverbs 14:30 describes an intense and sometimes violent emotion or insatiable desire. The term is closely associated with jealousy, anger, and zeal. Bones refer to the state of the whole person. The bones are the seat of one’s health and strength. Thus, rottenness in the bones is a state of moral, spiritual, and physical decay. Nurturing an attitude of envy is detrimental to the bones because it is harmful to a person’s body, mind, spirit, and soul. It is like a disease that eats away a person’s moral strength, weakens the body, and eventually leads to death. Elsewhere, the Bible affirms that our passionate emotions directly affect our physical condition. “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit,” states Solomon (Proverbs 15:13;see also Proverbs 15:30;see also Proverbs 17:22;and 18:14).

The Bible leaves no room for doubt that envy is a sin that must be avoided (Romans 1:29; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 2:1-2). The apostle Paul identifies envy as one of the “acts of the flesh” (ESV) or “desires of the sinful nature” (NLT) and cautions that “those who live in this way will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21; NLT). Jesus teaches that envy originates in the heart: “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7:21-23; NLT).

James admonishes against nurturing “bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:14-16).

A person consumed by envy lacks peace of mind, physical health, and spiritual well-being. Envy stands in opposition to contentment and tranquility. Paul instructs Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:6-9; ESV).

Envy exposes a lack of trust in God. Therefore, the writer of Hebrews urges, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Make sure you «Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. », (Hebrews 13:5). By placing our hope and confidence in God, He becomes our “portion” (Psalm 73:26;Psalm 142:5) and provides everything we need (2 Peter 1:3-4). Like David, we shall lack nothing because our cup overflows with goodness and mercy throughout our lives as we dwell in God’s presence forever (Psalm 23). When we seek the Lord and delight ourselves in Him, He grants us the desires of our hearts, and we lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10;Psalm 37:4).

Envy divides people and fractures families (Luke 15:25-32;Genesis 37:4-11), but love is patient, kind, and not envious «Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, », (1 Corinthians 13:4). Envy is destructive to the bones because it indicates a lack of love and absence of light. God urges us to “live as children of light” «For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: », (Ephesians 5:8) and to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not consider how to fulfill the desires of the flesh.”

How to satisfy the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:12-14).