Sermon Illustrations

Greed vs. Envy

Envy is the evil eye that looks on the success and happiness of another and resents his being so blessed. It is different from covetousness, which desires to have what another has. Envy simply resents the other person's having it.

There's an old legend about a greedy man and an envious man who were walking along when they were overtaken by a stranger who got to know them. And after a bit he said, as he departed from them, that he would give each of them a gift. Whoever made a wish first would get what he wanted, and the other would get a double portion of what the first had asked for.

The greedy man knew what he wanted, but he was afraid to make his wish because he wanted the double portion for himself and didn't want the other to get it. And the envious man felt the same way, and he was also unwilling to wish first.

After a while the stronger of the two grabbed the other by the throat and said he would choke him to death unless he made his wish. And at that the other man said, "Very well. I make my wish -- I wish to be made blind in one eye."

Immediately he lost the sight of one eye, and his companion went blind in both. Be careful of greed and envy.

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