Envy is subtle. Most times, it’s not always obvious that someone is harboring envy. Folks who are envious of you usually hide it. When they come around you, they smile at you; they laugh with you; they even ‘celebrate’ your success, but it is a fake celebration.

I encourage you to walk away from anyone who is envious of you. If you notice that someone is not genuinely rejoicing at your success, move away from that person. If not, he might kill you — literally; or sabotage your success.

 “Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, ‘Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.’ And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been…So he fled with all he had, and crossing the River, he headed for the hill country of Gilead.”
~Genesis 31: 1-2, 21

When Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude and that of his children towards him had changed, he left them and relocated.

On the contrary, there are people who are genuinely interested in another person’s success. For instance, in the case of Pharaoh and Joseph, Pharaoh willingly made Joseph his second in command, and gave him sweeping powers.

“‘You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.’”
~Genesis 41: 40-42

There are people who are so happy with your success, that it becomes their success. These are the people you should stay with. But if you notice that someone is not happy when you are successful, please, in the name of Jesus, move away from such a person. His envy of you will not permit him to rejoice with you.

There are people who come close to you only when you are failing. Someone, who had envious people around him, once came to me. He said this to me, “I’ve tried everything to make these people happy. I’ve given them money; I’ve given them things. What else can I do?” In reply, I told him, “Let me tell you what to do to get them happy. Just fail; become broke; become critically sick; start dying on your death bed; then you will see these same people come to you with gifts, and with real joy.  Not fake joy this time. They will become happy. They will always be there, encouraging you, and helping you with all cheerfulness.”

People who have envy on account of you can’t rejoice with you, rather their envy causes them to rejoice in your failure. They enjoy it when you are downtrodden, and in disgrace. Your reproach gives them joy.  The only way you can get those people to be happy is to fail. There is nothing you can do to make someone who is envious of you to be happy except to fail. So since you are not planning to fail any time soon, what do you do? Move away from such person.

Then again, you should not be jealous, or envious of any other person too.

Memory Verse:
Genesis 31:1-2, 21
“Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, ‘Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.’ And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been…So he fled with all he had, and crossing the River, he headed for the hill country of Gilead.”

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please help me to discern those who are envious of me, and give me the wisdom to move away from them. Also strengthen me not to have envy on account of other people, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.