LOVE’S CHARACTER: NOT ENVIOUS

…It does not envy… – 1 Corinthians 13:4b (NIV)
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have – 1 Corinthians 13:4b (Message)

The two positive descriptions of love – patient and kind (13:4a) – are followed by eight negative characteristics (13:4b-6), and finally four more positive attributes (13:7).

Love is not envious; love does not envy. Envy or carnal jealousy is admiration and desire gone awry. Envy is self-centred, while love is directed outwards towards others. One can legitimately admire another for something that person is or has, and rightly desire some of the same things for himself. The boundary into envy is crossed when admiration and desire turn to resentment of others for they good they have. This is the attitudinal root of many terrible acts of wickedness in the world. The Bible refers to those who “envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord” (Psa.106:16). James 3:16 also confirms: “for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

In the context of Corinth, the church was pervaded by controversies, conflicts, divisions and strife. A place that was full of carnal allegiances, worldly standards, and sexual immorality was good breeding ground for bitterness, envy and suspicion. Even today, society largely defines love in terms of sexual passion or sentimental attachments and makes many relationships open to abuse. The believers in Corinth apparently envied each other, which became a spring of divisions among them: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Cor. 3:3).

Love is never jealous of the achievement of others or the attention others get. When self-centred jealousy springs forth, the possibility of true love is ruled out. To envy is to fail to display the love of Christ Who gave up all for the sake of others (Phil. 2:3-8). True love is not possessive; it gives up their right to another person's attention. Love instead commits itself to bringing benefits and blessings to the other person.