How do you respond when someone gets a break you are sure you deserve? Perhaps they get a promotion when you know you work harder. Or maybe they get an invitation to speak somewhere when you know you are far more qualified. Maybe they are blessed with a child when you have been trying to get pregnant for months. It could be that they seem to have a perfect husband and obedient children – and you are sure you are a better parent. How do you respond?

I am working on my sermon on envy. This will be the last installment of the Seven Deadly Sins series. And, sadly, there is just not enough time to include all the stories on this topic. So, I wanted to share a couple of scenarios. The first is from literature. The second is a historical example.

You may have heard of the short story The Window, by author G.W. Target. This story tells of of two seriously ill men who occupied the same hospital room. One man has a bed by the window. Each day, he is propped up for an hour each day to allow fluid to drain from his lungs. The other man spends his days on his back.

The two men enjoyed each other’s company. They discuss their lives and talk for hours about their experiences outside the hospital. And they especially enjoy the one hour when the man by the window is allowed to sit up in his bed. During this short time, the man is able to see the world outside. And he describes what he sees in vivid detail, allowing the other man to experience the blessings as well. There is a wonderful park outside the window. He tells of children playing in the playground. He describes the flocks of ducks as they land on the crystal clear pond. He smiles as he sees a man and woman walking along the path, hand in hand. One day, he tells of a circus parade that goes right past the hospital. While they cannot hear the music, animals to acrobats are described in vivid detail. And the invalid man is able to enjoy the scene in the recesses of his mind.

But one day, the man on his back starts to complain in his heart. This was just not fair! Why did the other man get to see all these things. Why couldn’t he look out the window! These thoughts of self righteousness started to consume him. When his friend described the sites, he started to hate the words. He hated the window. He began to hate his friend.

One dark night, as the invalid stewed in anger, he heard his friend began to cough. He was choking. The fluid in his lungs was drowning him. The man reached for the call button, but could not find it. The other man could see it. He could reach it, if he wanted to. But he just watched. It was only right.

The next day, after the body of his old friend was removed, the invalid man asked to trade beds. Finally, he would get the window. It would be his! And he would not have to share its wonder with anyone.

After they moved the bed, he struggled to pull himself up and gaze out. And what he saw indeed amaze him. The view from the window was nothing more than a brick wall.

And now, let me share with you a true story. It was the summer of 1947. The place was the 12th hole at Augusta. The tournament was the Masters. At the tee were Ben Hogan and Claude Harmon. They were friends, but very different in personality. Harmon was gregarious, the life of the party. Hogan was more reserved, a thoughtful man.

This had been a very good day for Claude Harmon. And the wonder was not done. Harmon stepped up to the tee. Hit the ball with a solid stroke. The ball sailed into the air, hit the green, and rolled right into the cup. The crowd went wild! This was the first hole-in-one ever at this hole.

Hogan did not say a word. He went about his business. He stepped up the tee, hit the ball, and sent it to the green – a few feet short of the hole. Hogan then went to the green, and putted it in for a birdie.

The crowd was cheering – but still for Harmon.

They then went on. There was still much golf to play that day. As they made their way to the 13th tee, Hogan turned to Harmon and said, “You know Claude that is the first ’2’ I’ve ever made on that hole.”

These are challenging stories. How do we respond when someone near us is blessed? Do we thank the Lord for what He has done in them or for them? Do we stay focused on the opportunities and gifts He has given us? Or do we secretly resent them and ponder how unfair life is? Our hearts can reveal a great sickness – the sickness of being green with envy.

If you want to hear how to be cured of this sickness, come visit us at Providence Church this Lord’s Day. Worship starts at 10:00 am.