Envy: A Big Problem You Didn't Know You Had
Ebook
It’s often undetected—but if you knew the damage it was causing, you’d do everything possible to root it out!
Envy. It’s insidious. Pervasive. Corrosive. In the age of materialism and social media, it’s difficult not to feel the creep of this increasing and ever-present temptation. Pastor and teacher Mike Fabarez diagnoses the problem of this pervasive sin. He brings the reader to biblical stories with often-overlooked ties to envy that expose and demonstrate the seriousness and harm caused by our unexamined motives. When envy is allowed to reside unchecked in our hearts, there are internal, relational, and societal costs—Envy explores all of these.
But we are not left to despair. Instead, we are invited to know a kind and gracious Father who calls us to identify and assault this enemy. We can live with satisfaction and contentment. This book explores biblical ways to shore up our hearts and minds and close the gaps that leave us vulnerable to envy’s temptations. By understanding life in the body of Christ, readers learn to truly rejoice with those who rejoice. And we leave with a deeper capacity for grace and selfless love. With a pastoral heart, Fabarez reassures Christians of a divine hope and promise of an eternal kingdom where hearts are content, and joy is full.
“It takes a brave man to take on the sin of envy because the world around us is largely built on the exploitation and expansion of envy. Thankfully, Mike Fabarez is that brave man. In this faithful book, filled with biblical and pastoral wisdom, Fabarez gets right to the heart of the issue and offers keen analysis and trustworthy teaching. I highly commend this book to all believers.”
—R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.
President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“This book is simply excellent. Mike Fabarez has tackled a neglected topic and successfully made the case that we all have a bigger problem with envy than we would like to admit. Using scriptural examples and imperatives, he reminds us of the biblical bottom line that ‘love does not envy.’ What a difference it would make if we eradicated the envy lurking in our sinful hearts and truly cultivated love of neighbor. Pastor Mike’s well organized work written with a pastoral heart not only illuminates the problem but carefully provides a plan of counterattack. His insights into how we unknowingly provoke others to envy are striking too. He’s right. I did not know I had a problem with envy. I do. I am glad to have this wise counsel to both admonish and encourage me.”
—MARY K. MOHLER
Wife of Albert Mohler; author of Growing in Gratitude and Susannah Spurgeon
“With precise biblical insight, this book, which is skillfully written and masterfully illustrated, aids the reader in dealing with a universal core problem. It aims to not only inform but also to transform us to comprehend and experience the love of God in a fresh way—the love that uniquely frees us to know ourselves, be ourselves, and enjoy ourselves to the glory of the God who alone never disappoints!”
—BILL THRASHER
Author and professor, Moody Theological Seminary
“It’s easy today to find resources focusing on sinful practices that impact our lives like an exploding bomb, damaging all within reach. What’s not so common is a book like this that tackles a sin that affects every one of us and is far more subtle in its destructive power. With the Bible as his source and guide, Mike Fabarez exposes the sin of envy and then offers a powerful remedy for its seductive influence in our lives.”
—ED STETZER
Dean, Talbot School of Theology
“Few people understand the devastating power of envy. As a homicide detective, I repeatedly encountered it as a common motivation for the murders I investigated. But that’s not where the real danger lies. It’s in the everyday, insidious way envy creeps into the lives of those of us who will never commit a homicide. In Envy, Dr. Mike Fabarez illustrates the cost envy extracts from all of us and outlines a biblical strategy to overcome its corrosive influence. If you’ve ever struggled with envy, jealousy, or covetousness, Envy will help you chart a path to freedom.”
—J. WARNER WALLACE
Dateline featured cold-case detective, author, speaker, senior fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University), Gateway Seminary, and Southern Evangelical Seminary
“Envy is one of those ‘respectable sins.’ It’s easy to underassess its sinfulness and to underestimate the spiritual damage it does in our lives. That’s why I’m thankful Mike Fabarez has written Envy. This book will help the reader detect envy within them, deal with it, and pursue a more faithful, satisfied life in Christ. These reasons and more are why I heartily recommend this book.”
—JASON K. ALLEN
President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & Spurgeon College
“If I weren’tthoroughly warned, I would be tempted to envy this excellent book by Mike Fabarez. It’s everything you want in a spiritual study: engaging, lively, hilarious in places, wise, humble, and above all drenched in biblical truth. Throughout, I marveled at Fabarez’s communicative gifts; he has a serious God-given ability to relate to the reader, simplify the complex, and exhort the sleeping. Best of all, his call to kill envy is steeped in the powerful grace of God, which changes envious and self-worshiping creatures like us into glad-hearted servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
—OWEN STRACHAN
Coauthor, The Essential Jonathan Edwards; provost, Grace Bible Theological Seminary
“I just finished reading my friend Pastor Mike Fabarez’s new book, Envy, and boy, do I wish I had written it. And therein lies the problem. We need this book because we all struggle with envy at times—wishing we had stuff others have or accomplished work others have achieved or obtained status others have earned. God wants us to learn contentment and reject envy in our own lives. Read Pastor Mike’s biblical and practical study of envy. If we apply the concepts contained in it, we’ll not only learn and grow in contentment, but we’ll deepen our walk with the Lord Jesus.”
—MICHAEL RYDELNIK
VP and Academic Dean, Professor of Jewish Studies and Bible, Moody Bible Institute; host and Bible teacher, Moody Radio’s Open Line with Dr. Michael Rydelnik
“Most people have more stuff than ever yet feel less content. Why? Mike Fabarez challenges us to examine our hearts to look for envy, which may be robbing us of our contentment and our joy. As a friend, Mike has always inspired me to love God more and grow in spiritual maturity. As an author, he will challenge us all to evaluate our desires and replace envy with love and rejoicing. If you love Jesus and want to be more like Him, I encourage you to read this book!”
—THOMAS WHITE
President and Professor of Theology, Cedarville University
“Someone once wisely said that envy is the last sin to die. Dr. Mike Fabarez gives weight to this truth by citing many instances in Scripture that point to this deadly sin. I especially appreciated chapter 7 and the epilogue. As a teacher and counselor of women, I look forward to having this resource.”
—SUSAN HECK
Author, counselor, teacher (www.withthemaster.org)
“Like a spiritual cancer silently eroding the strength of our souls, I am convinced envy is a great enemy of many Christians who don’t even know they have the disease. In this book, Mike Fabarez functions as a true physician of the soul, diagnosing the terrible sin of envy that exists in each of our hearts and prescribing the strong cure that exists in Christ alone. I hope you will read it and share it with others.”
—HEATH LAMBERT
Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
“The title says it all: Envy: A Big Problem You Didn’t Know You Had. In this book, Mike Fabarez uncovers layers of rationalization and shows that yes, we all struggle with the hidden sin of envy. He exposes this sin but also shows us the way to freedom so that we can rejoice when we hear good news about others who are more successful than we! This is a very thoughtful book; read it, and let it touch your life.”
—ERWIN W. LUTZER
Pastor Emeritus, The Moody Church, Chicago
“In Envy, Mike Fabarez addresses a common but often overlooked sin in a solidly biblical way and with a pastor’s heart. This book will help anyone wanting to kill this pernicious sin that kills gratitude, joy, and fruitfulness.”
—ERIK THOENNES
Professor of Theology, Talbot School of Theology / Biola University; pastor, Grace Evangelical Free Church, La Mirada, CA; author of Godly Jealousy: A Theology of Intolerant Love and Life’s Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says About the Things That Matter Most
“Pastor Mike Fabarez is an extraordinary Bible teacher and perceptive analyzer of today’s culture. With candor and spiritual insight, Pastor Mike exposes a deadly camouflaged enemy wreaking havoc on many personal lives, relationships, and communities. I highly recommend this book because it will not only help you identify the symptoms of envy possibly embedded in your own heart, but it also presents a practical, compelling path to combat and overcome envy’s deadly undertow. One of the best books on overcoming envy that I have read.”
—MARK JOBE
President of Moody Bible Institute; Senior Pastor, New Life Community Church
“We live in a culture saturated with and motivated by envy. Social media and our insatiable drive toward materialism have masked envy as a virtue. By using biblical truth, Fabarez removes that mask to help us see how easily we fall prey to this respectable sin and how the root sin of envy causes deep destruction in our lives. This book is both convicting and refreshing, as Fabarez provides a biblical defense to destroy envious cravings and a biblical offense to pursue godly motivations that bring freedom and life.”
—T. DALE JOHNSON JR.
Executive Director, The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors; Director of Counseling Programs, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Title: Envy: A Big Problem You Didn't Know You Had
- Author: Mike Fabarez
- Publisher: Moody Publishers
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9780802473035, 9780802431752, 0802431755, 0802473032
- Resource ID: LLS:9780802473035
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-02T07:39:22Z