The Lord makes poor, and the Lord makes rich. Therefore, when you envy your prosperous neighbor, you are, at one level, begrudging God’s generosity. When you feel resentful at your own financial lot, you are failing to trust the sovereign God. At such times, God’s question for you is the same as that of the vineyard master in the parable: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matt. 20:15 NIV). Money envy, like all envy, must be confronted with the goodness and sovereignty of God.
