"Envy, The Gateway Sin"

BIBLE READING: Genesis 30-31

     Emotions are one of the greatest blessings that God has given us.  However, learning how to control those emotions can be very difficult.  In the reading for the day, one can see that Rachel is struggling with some of her emotions.  Rachel is very upset that God has not allowed her to have children and that anger has grown into jealousy and resentment for her sister Leah. Leah is not only able to bear children, but has been quite good at it having had four children (Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah).  That brings us to Genesis 30. 1:“When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister.” Envy is a very damaging emotion. Solomon describes it as making our bones rot (Proverbs 14.30).  The biggest problem with envy, is that it opens the door for many other sins.  Listen to what James says:             “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”  (James 3.16). Typically, envy is only the beginning of a host of other evil issues.  In the case of our story, Rachel becomes angry and lashes out at her husband. Then she asks her husband to sleep with her servant Bilhah, who in turn bears Jacob two children.  You can only imagine the problems that existed within the dynamic of this home.  The lesson for us today, is to understand that envy only opens the door for other sins.  So, let us seek to control our emotions such as jealousy and envy, and be content with what God has already blessed us.