Faith is asking the right question at the right time, especially on Good Friday: “What would Jesus do in my place?” – and, above all, having the courage to live the answer.

However, to arrive at this answer, it is necessary to face truths that many avoid. One of them is envy. Although almost everyone claims to have already been targeted by it, few admit that they have already felt it. But it doesn’t make sense – and this reveals something important: envy is more present than you think.

The envy that led to the cross

Few people notice, but Good Friday also carries this mark.

When Jesus was brought to trial, everything happened unfairly. The accusations were not sustained, and the process was clearly manipulated. Still, there was a detail that caught the attention: the Roman governor himself, Pilate, identified the true motivation behind everything.

He realised that Jesus had been delivered out of envy.

Religious leaders were bothered by His influence, by the miracles, by the attention of the people. Feeling threatened, they decided to eliminate Him. And so they incited the crowd to choose the liberation of Barabbas – a criminal – while asking for the crucifixion of Jesus.

That is, envy was not only present – it was decisive.

Still, there is a powerful truth in all this: Jesus suffered envy, but was not defeated by it.

A human feeling – but dangerous

Envy is born from comparison. This is clear even in children. Just share attention, space or affection, and the feeling begins to emerge.

In adulthood, this intensifies. Even knowing that it is something negative, many cannot control it. And the reason is simple: they keep looking at others.

Where there is comparison, there is fertile ground for envy.

On the other hand, where there is no comparison, envy finds no space. Think: a person alone, without a reference to compare themselves, does not feel jealous. But it is enough for someone to appear next to you, with something apparently better, that the feeling appears.

Stop looking to the side

Here’s the main point: it’s no use trying to avoid being envied.

If not even Jesus escaped this, no one will escape.

Therefore, the focus should not be on what others feel about you, but on your relationship with God. Those who are aligned with Him may even be the target of envy, but they will not be destroyed by it.

On the other hand, the greatest care should be taken with the envy that may exist within each one.

And, to overcome it, it is necessary to make a practical decision: stop comparing yourself.

The antidote: look at yourself and learn

Instead of bothering with the success of others, the correct attitude is another:

Ask: “What can I learn from this person?”
Develop humility to grow.
Focus on your own life, not on the lives of others

The Word of God clearly teaches: everyone must take care of themselves. Comparisons only divert the focus and feed destructive feelings.

The strength of gratitude

In addition, there is an essential complement: gratitude.

Being grateful for what you have – even if it is not yet ideal – completely changes the way you see life. And more: learning to rejoice in the success of others weakens envy definitively.

Gratitude is incompatible with envy.

When someone decides to thank, both for their own life and for the achievements of others, they eliminate this poison at the root.

A decision that changes everything

Envy can even be a common feeling, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.

The decision is in the hands of each one: continue feeding comparisons or choose to live with focus, learning and gratitude.

In the end, the question remains: what would Jesus do in his place?

Those who decide to live this answer not only overcome envy, but also become free to live an intelligent, practical and transformative faith.