Satan has many tools in his toolbox. Of all the tools in Satan's toolbox, the biggest tool he uses is jealousy. It's very easy for someone to induce another person to become jealous of them or jealous about someone else's power, position, wealth, relationships, etc. The way Satan goes about doing his ugly work is by making people jealous of others. Indeed it is one of the many sins the Apostle Paul warms us about in the Book of Galatians:
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:19-23
There is also a warning about coveting in the Old Testament:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21) Of course the word neighbor is being used in a general manner, such as what Jesus implied in the parable of the Good Samaritan. If you are not familiar with that parable, go look it up.
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Romans 13:13
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:14-16
James goes on to say that we have not because we do not pray for what we need. If we prayed in all sincerity according to the will of God, he would provide:
"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2
In all things, asking God for what we need in prayer can do more to bring us what we want than our own effort. This does not mean that we stop making an effort, it just means that God can do more in a second of sincere faith than all we could do in a lifetime:
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
and according to the Apostle Paul, we are called to pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God for us.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16
So there are many cautions in the Bible about not envying. In addition the person who deliberately causes conditions or situations to cause another to envy or jealousy is equally as sinful and wrong as the person who harbors envy or jealousy in his or her heart. So I hope you heed this warning today as you go about your day: do not be jealous and do not cause another human being to be jealous, because you are doing the bidding of Satan if you do.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:19-23
There is also a warning about coveting in the Old Testament:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21) Of course the word neighbor is being used in a general manner, such as what Jesus implied in the parable of the Good Samaritan. If you are not familiar with that parable, go look it up.
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Romans 13:13
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:14-16
James goes on to say that we have not because we do not pray for what we need. If we prayed in all sincerity according to the will of God, he would provide:
"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2
In all things, asking God for what we need in prayer can do more to bring us what we want than our own effort. This does not mean that we stop making an effort, it just means that God can do more in a second of sincere faith than all we could do in a lifetime:
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
and according to the Apostle Paul, we are called to pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God for us.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16
So there are many cautions in the Bible about not envying. In addition the person who deliberately causes conditions or situations to cause another to envy or jealousy is equally as sinful and wrong as the person who harbors envy or jealousy in his or her heart. So I hope you heed this warning today as you go about your day: do not be jealous and do not cause another human being to be jealous, because you are doing the bidding of Satan if you do.