Envy

…coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:22-23 ESV) Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV) So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (1 Peter 2:1 ESV)

Envy is dangerous because… 1.It is easily disguised

Envy is dangerous because… 1.It is easily disguised 2.It is not restrained to one person And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ (Deuteronomy 20:8 ESV)

Envy is dangerous because… 1.It is easily disguised 2.It is not restrained to one person 3.The number of casualties is staggering

The casualties are staggering 1.Fractures families 1.Cain and Abel 2.Sarah and Hagar 3.Joseph and his brothers

The casualties are staggering 1.Fractures families 2.Lacerates leadership And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:2-3 ESV)

The casualties are staggering 1.Fractures families 2.Lacerates leadership 3.Crumbles churches If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people… (1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV)

The casualties are staggering 1.Fractures families 2.Lacerates leadership 3.Crumbles churches 4.Delivered an innocent man For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. (Mark 15:10 ESV)

Our Envy is Often Inflamed… when those not following God have it good Ps. 73:3, 5-6- have no trouble, much pride Ps. 73:8-9- they scoff, threaten, talk big Ps. 73: 10- good men find no fault Ps. 73: wasting time in doing good? Ps. 73:17- end of the story explains things Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. (Proverbs 24:19-20 ESV)

Our Envy is Often Inflamed… when others live more righteous than us Successful soul winning? Sacrificial service? Leadership attention? Envy says, “Why them?” “Why not me? ”

What can be done about envy? Rejoice in other’s blessings Be thankful for what YOU have received So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. …if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV)

What can be done about envy? Rejoice in other’s blessings Be thankful for what YOU have received Stop the comparisons Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

What can be done about envy? Rejoice in other’s blessings Be thankful for what YOU have received Stop the comparisons Be more concerned about glorifying God

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV)

ENVY is … Not worth the bitterness Not worth the resentment Not worth the fractured relationships Not worth losing one’s place in the kingdom