Chapter 1: The Encounter with Gizmo

In the picturesque Glassy-Valleys, there lived a creative schoolgirl named Lucinda, who had a deep love for painting. As she neared the end of her primary education, her parents took pride in her artistic enthusiasm.

One afternoon, while making her way home, Lucinda discovered a small creature hiding in the bushes by the playground. With its soft fur and striking green eyes, it reminded her of a plush toy. She affectionately named it Gizmo and tucked it into her backpack.

Gizmo quickly became Lucinda's loyal friend, often sneaking along to school. During art class, while Lucinda painted a colorful representation of the Glassy-Valleys for an assignment, Gizmo would sit by her side, closely watching her every stroke.

As Lucinda immersed herself in her artwork, she relished the new skills she was acquiring. Once she set down her brush, proud of her creation, Gizmo suddenly grew restless. He tugged at her sleeve, urging her to look at the work of a classmate. Priscilla’s watercolor depiction of the Glassy-Valleys was nothing short of breathtaking. The flowers appeared to dance in the gentle breeze, while the interplay of light and shadow added a mesmerizing depth. A pang of jealousy struck Lucinda. How could someone her age produce such an extraordinary piece?

Lucinda stared enviously at Priscilla and her painting from across the room. To her astonishment, Gizmo began to grow larger, his fur lengthening and claws sprouting from his small paws.

Later that day, Lucinda’s mother picked her up from school to save her from carrying her new painting home. As they arrived in the parking lot, she noticed Lucinda struggling to fit the now-enlarged Gizmo into her backpack. Confused by the sudden change in size, her mother opened the car door and asked, "Who is your new friend?" Lucinda, arms crossed and gazing out the window, remained silent, while Gizmo shrugged at her mother.

Worried, her mother inquired, "Where’s your new painting, Lucinda?"

"I threw it in the trash," Lucinda replied.

Her mother’s heart sank, and the ride home was filled with silence. Lucinda couldn’t shake off the image of Priscilla's watercolor masterpiece. She felt inadequate compared to Priscilla. Meanwhile, Gizmo continued to grow larger and larger.

This tale serves as a cautionary reminder to be wary of the green-eyed monster. These feelings of envy often begin small and endearing but can swell into monstrous emotions that wreak havoc. As a pastor in a primary school, I strive to help children recognize and dispel these feelings before they escalate. Many conflicts among friends stem from these pesky creatures, which thrive on discontentment over others' blessings, talents, wealth, or appearances.

The term "green-eyed monster" comes from Shakespeare, symbolizing envy that “mocks the meat it feeds on.” Envy is the distress we feel over what others possess. Ironically, we often envy things we already have in some form. For instance, if you pride yourself on being the life of the party, you may feel envious of someone else's charisma. Perhaps you find yourself resenting another's looks or feeling threatened by their talents. As Harold G. Coffin aptly states, "Envy is the art of counting other people's blessings instead of your own."

Chapter 2: The Dangers of Envy

Not everyone is endowed with the same talents, advantages, or appealing traits. Someone will always outshine you in certain areas, whether in appearance, intelligence, or humor. Some individuals seem to excel at everything, and that can feel unjust. However, God appears less concerned with fairness than we might be.

In the parable of the talents, the master assigns varying amounts of resources to each servant, based on their unique abilities. Likewise, in the parable of the vineyard workers, the master pays the same wage for unequal labor. It doesn’t seem fair, yet God accepts this disparity.

Paul, an Apostle of Christ, expresses that he finds joy in his weaknesses because it is through those weaknesses that God’s strength is revealed (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul notes that God chooses the weak to shame the strong, showcasing that our perception of fairness does not align with God’s ways.

“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another” (Galatians 5:26). Instead, we should strive to live by the Spirit. When we focus solely on others' blessings, we risk overlooking our own gifts and the unique ways God is working in our lives.

To mitigate the influence of the green-eyed monster, we should consider others' worth above our own. A beneficial practice is to express gratitude for the qualities and talents we observe in those around us. This appreciation fosters friendships and strengthens bonds rather than tearing them apart. As bearers of God's image, our individual glory is merely a reflection of His glory. Tilly Dillehay refers to this as “borrowed glory,” emphasizing that our glory originates from God's grace for His purposes.

In the story of Lucinda and Gizmo, we witness the destructive force of envy and its potential to stain our hearts and relationships. The green-eyed monster tempts us to compare ourselves to others, fostering resentment and diminishing their blessings. We must resist its allure.

To combat envy, we should shift our focus from tallying others' blessings to valuing our own, no matter how they compare. Recognizing our unique gifts allows us to fulfill our distinct purposes. By practicing gratitude for the strengths of others, we can cultivate meaningful relationships and contentment.

Remember, our individual glory is not of our own making; it is a reflection of God's glory entrusted to us. By living in the Spirit and prioritizing others, we gain a deeper understanding of our purpose. We become part of a larger narrative where God expresses His love through our lives, regardless of our gifts' comparison to others.

Let us remain vigilant against the green-eyed monster within. Instead of nurturing envy, let us embrace gratitude. We should celebrate the achievements and talents of others, understanding that their light enhances our own, serving to honor God further.