From the privacy of my own home an indulgent mud mask might sound inviting. It claims to make me more beautiful, clear my complexion, soften my skin. Put it on, let it do its thing, wash it off, and I'm on my way with glowing skin! Sounds safe enough.But what if when I went to wash my face, the green slime wouldn't come off? Could I ever go out in public again? Would I be willing to go to school or the mall like this? No way! I wouldn't even want to answer the doorbell!
What I had once thought I could keep private would suddenly be a source of shame! It's kind of the same with envy. While it might feel kind of good to let myself dwell on jealous or greedy thoughts about someone else in the quiet of my own head, what I think about has a way of becoming as obvious to the world as a permanent slime mask.
You've heard the saying, "green with envy" right? Well, think of envy like green mud that won't easily wash off. The Bible says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). Holding envy in my heart not only hurts me inside, but it ultimately hurts my body as well. Only peaceful hearts bring beauty both inside and out!
