Can you name the seven deadly sins?
I suppose it is something that isn’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days, and there will be a number of reasons for that. Firstly, people don’t hear about them any more. Secondly, a lot of people wouldn’t know what some of them even meant if they did hear them. Thirdly, there are so many more sins out there – the world has come a long way since the early days of the church. Technology has moved on and you can sin faster, with more people and more often than you ever could back then!
I don’t know why the church came up with the idea of limiting the “deadly” sins to any number. As far as I can see, unless the sin is forgiven by God, even the smallest, most insignificant sin is deadly. However, in case you really want to know what the seven deadly ones are, here is the list:
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Greed
- Sloth
- Wrath
- Envy
- Pride
I don’t think I have missed any. How about you, can you tick them all off?
But I want just to talk about envy, or jealousy, because it can be a good thing! Not all the time, but there are times when it is good, times when it can actually influence eternity! We should make people envious! We should make people jealous! I have something which I treasure, the best treasure anyone could have, and I want to show it off. I want people to envy me, to be jealous of what I have!
Now wait a minute, you say. You can’t do that! You are now bursting with Sin Number Seven, and encouraging others to Sin Number Six you!
But did you know that God actually uses jealousy? He wants some people to be jealous!
Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. (Rom 11:11-12, NLT)
Makes you think, eh? Is your salvation working in you in a way that makes others jealous, makes them want what you have? Does your life reflect your salvation? Is there so much joy in the way you live that people say “I want some of that”?
Go on! Make them jealous! It’s good for them!