It seems a simple enough question, but believe it or not, there is more than one kind of fear. According to the Oxford Dictionary, fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” Now, on the surface, that can seem only a negative thing, but there are good things to fear, like a hot stove, or deep water, or strangers. However, fear has a dark side and with it comes a whole host of consequences that can easily swallow us up.
So, what do we fear? We fear missing out on something (envy is another word for that), failure, ridicule, being hurt, letting go, the unknown. We get anxious or worried. The worst part of this type of fear is that it can be addicting if not kept in check. Don’t get me wrong. We need to be cautious, especially if we have had prior experience with something. However, we must not let our fear become a crutch. Fear can so entrap us that it becomes familiar. When that happens, it becomes a place of false safety and a shield with holes in it.
I never thought of envy as related to fear, but it's true! A sin that often flies under the radar. Thank you, God, for light and truth!