Envy vs. Jealousy

On Sunday, Pastor Andy Hahn had a message at our church called "Greener Grass: The Toxin of Envy".
I knew this would be a good one, because we all fall short when it comes to Envy. I knew God would speak to me with something through this.
I know I'm an envious person, but what I didn't know was that there are different forms of Envy, which are:
Material - things
Relational - people
Positional - status
And that they different forms of envy all are in the 10 commandments, in one verse, Exodus 20:17...
"You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

What I realized was Envy is a condition of the heart. And how do we develope a heart of peace? Well, we need to start with the heart first! Interesting, huh?
It makes me thinking about where did this develope and how and when did it start to reside in me? I need to remember to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Which goes back to a couple blogs ago when I talked about Thanksgiving should be everyday! Hum....
Am I thankful today?
I think the hardest part about all of this is to learn to rejoice in the well-being of others (to not be jealous). I think that is where it all starts for us all, that it becomes a factor that we dwell on and think how did that happen and not to me...we not only become Envious, but we become Jealous. And when Jealous eats us up, our heart becomes bitter and sour, and then we start to ACT that way towards people and to the person that we are jealous or envious of...and do they deserve that?

This makes me think about being satisfied with what God has given me. We all tend to get restless in our lives. I have felt that in the last 6 months probably, and maybe longer. Ben and I so badly want a house, but even before that, we desire to be a in place were we know we are going to live (meaning Ben gets a full time job!!). But we need that before we can get a house...so we tend to get anxious. Now is anxious different than being envious? I guess if I were envious of people that had a full time job and new were they were going to live for awhile. But you see, I don't think I am. I think its just more we desire to have that, becaust at the same time we are content we're we are too. But that is something I need to pray about and see what God is showing me more there.

But I need to be satisfied with were we are. Sure Ben might not have his full-time permanent job just yet, but he has a job and we live in a nice place and area that God has provided for us. There are many out there who don't even have a job, which forces them to move to a different place. I'm thankful for this!
I'm thankful for the wonderful husband I have!

Lord Jesus, I ask you now to search my heart and search my life of areas I need to be shown with Envy. I pray that you would continue to show me areas in my life that I need to work out and through and look at my heart and see that it is Christ-centered. Show me the areas in my life which are not! I thank you Jesus for the things you have show me through the message on Sunday. May this dwell in me and may I search more in depth to what you will show me!