Respectable Sins of Christmas #4 - Envy

It is almost inevitable for us, as human beings, to compare things. And comparison is not necessarily bad. Scripture teaches us to grow in wisdom, and much of wisdom involves discernment—comparing people, situations, and behaviours in order to choose what is good and reject what is harmful. In that sense, comparison can be a tool for growth.

But significant moments in life tend to heighten our tendency to compare, and Christmas is no exception. It becomes natural to compare our Christmas with other people’s Christmases: decorations, traditions, gifts, food, family dynamics. In our digital age, this impulse is only intensified. Social media puts before us carefully curated images of “perfect” Christmas experiences—beautiful decorations, charming markets, well-crafted rhythms, joyful dinners, generous gifts. And as comparison increases, so does the danger of envy.

In the age we live in, joy is often measured by aesthetics. We look at polished Christmas moments and attractive images, then we look at our own reality—and it can feel dull, simple, or even disappointing by comparison. Envy creeps in. We begin to resent the blessings of others. We may quietly question God’s goodness toward us. In subtle ways, we can even grow resentful of our own families because they don’t measure up to what we see online. Instead of gratitude for our spouse, our children, our church, the food on our table, or the gifts we were able to give, a sense of dissatisfaction and even disdain takes root.

It should be clear, then, that envy and Christmas do not belong together. Christmas is the celebration of God’s undeserved grace toward us. Envy, on the other hand, whispers that we deserve more. Envy is the enemy of enjoying grace. It is a thief of joy.

The Christian response is not necessarily to abandon social media, avoid gatherings, or try harder to compete. The antidote to envy is contentment. Contentment allows us to rejoice in what God has given us, to celebrate the abundance others may enjoy without resentment, and to be generous toward those who have less. Contentment teaches us to receive grace with joy rather than measure it against someone else’s experience.

We also need to remember that we are often comparing our backstage with other people’s stage. What we see on the surface is never the full reality. It is not wrong to desire improvement or growth in how we celebrate Christmas, but we must not be deceived by marketing and curated aesthetics. We may already possess what truly matters—and be despising it simply because our eyes have been captured by something that only looks better.

Christmas invites us not to compare, but to give thanks. Not to envy, but to rejoice. Not to measure grace, but to receive it.

Nino Marques