14—The Contentedness of Charity

“Charity envieth not.”

Envy is the vice that begrudges happiness, liberty, riches, success, or some other good to another. Envy is pained at seeing another in possession of what the envious man desires himself to have, but cannot obtain. Envy is a mean and contemptible vice. What difference can it make to us that others should succeed and be happy? If they shared our misfortunes, we would be no better off. Examine whether envy lurks in your heart.

Envy is a vice that utterly destroys the peace of him who harbors it. He is always uneasy and unites the longing for what he cannot have with a sort of hatred of those who are enjoying it. This double worm gnaws unceasingly at his heart. In our own interest, there is scarce any vice that it is such folly to harbor. Envy is also specially displeasing to God and hateful in His sight because it challenges His goodness and rebels against a state of things that He has ordained or permitted.

How different is the spirit of charity! It takes pleasure in the pleasure of others, it rejoices in their success, and is happy in seeing them happy. It wishes for nothing that others have and that is out of its own reach, for it recognizes the wise providence of God in all that happens, and therefore is perfectly satisfied with everything, and has no wish to see itself exalted and others depressed as envy does__. In view of the greater successes of others, is my spirit one of envy or one of charity? Do I rejoice in them or do I feel vexed and annoyed?__