READ: James 3:13-18
“…jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are the coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.“ – Songs of Solomon 8:6
Envy is a negative personal trait that is as cruel as the grave.
Anyone who has attended a funeral of a young person cut down in the prime of his life will understand the meaning of the phrase, “as cruel as the grave.” Attending the funeral of young fathers, mothers and friends only leaves you with desperate feelings of pain.
It is distressing just to watch grieving families torn apart by death: loved ones are wrenched away from those that depend on them. The meaninglessness of their lives and the hopelessness of their situation cannot be counselled away . A great desolation falls on those left behind and a gnawing and persisting pain consumes them. Can there be anything as cruel as the grave? But the Bible says that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Jealousy is indeed a very evil thing.
Envy is a negative personal trait whose evil effects are worse than anger and cruelty combined. What can be worse than cruelty? Remember that Jesus Christ was crucified because of envy (Mark 15:10). Envy is worse than cruelty because it is a mindless force that drives an individual to eliminate another without mercy or good reason. Envy is a monster that I pray you will not have to contend with.
Indeed, you must fear the envious for their cruelty is more than the grave! The greatest sin of men to crucify Jesus Christ was committed because of envy.