Envy

  • Rob Benson
  • Jul 22, 2012
  • Series: Emotion A Force

Illustration (Envy) -  This week I was hanging out with a group of guys and we were discussing the struggles of life.  One guys was commenting on the cost of health care and how he couldn’t afford it.  He also was envious of a friends fortunes and wealth.  Later the other guys were commenting on how they wished they had his property and house.  He could afford a nice property, house, and pool, but not health insurance, priorities.

 

This week we’re going to be finishing off our Series on “Emotion A Force.”  My hope and prayer is that you’ve allowed God to speak to you through this series.  We don’t often reflect on/think about how much influence our emotions have in our everyday lives, but our emotions most often drive our: thoughts, words, and actions; they determine how we relate to God and others.

 

Drama - Envy (By Joanne Parke-Davison)

 

Definition...

  • •  Hebrew/kin ah = Zeal, Jealousy
  • •  Greek/phthonos = jealousy, rivalry “the heart burns with...;” or “the stomach is hot with...”; to experience a feeling of ill will due to real or presumed advantage experienced by someone else.

 

Reading:  Ecclesiastes 4:1-4

Here is an observation written by Solomon son and successor to Israel’s throne after King David.  History knows him to be one of the wealthiest men who ever lived this is one of his many observations found in Ecclesiastes.

 

Envy drives competition; it drives our comparing ourselves or measuring ourselves with others.  It’s an emotion that we use to obtain, possess or achieve something someone else has.

 

Question:  How can you tell when the Emotional Force of Envy is driving you?

Answer:  When you hear yourself making “I want statements:”

I want statements...

  • •  That guys wife or girl friend...
  • •  That friends house...
  • •  That friends job...
  • •  That persons luck
  • •  That persons money...
  • •  That persons talents...
  • •  That persons power...

 

Definition:  Envy = A Painful or resentful awareness of anothers advantage joined with the desire to possess the same advantage (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

 

Bible

Envy is Serious business...it destroys...it’s a Powerful Emotional Force!

 

Paul has this to say about envy...

Reference - Galatians 5:19-26 (List) - Acts of Sinful Nature; Paul warns us that if you do life like this you will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.

Reference - Rom 1:29 Filled with envy (List) - Paul again says we know envy is inherently evil/wicked and that it destroys, but we continue to practice these ways and approve of others who live destructively.  All because of a percieved gain...

 

Jesus teaches us to focus on what’s going on inside of us...

  • •  Reading:  Mark 7:20-22 (List) - What’s unhealthy doesn’t come from outside of us, it comes from inside of us, from the heart comes envy.

 

lllustration:  Colorado Massacre at Preview of “The Dark Knight Rises.”  A PhD program drop out goes on a shooting rampage with a shot gun, semi-automatic weapon, 2 - 9mm pistols, and 6000 rounds of ammunition.  Acting out his own fantasy, James Holmes, kills 12 and wounds 58 people.  He rigged his car and apartment to kill more people modeling himself after the Batman villian the Joker. 

 

  • •  Reading:  Matthew 27:1-2  Envy drives decision to Crucify Christ
  • •  Reading:  Matthew 27:15-18  Pilot identifies Envy as motive of priests and elders.
  • •  Reading:  Matthew 27:3-5  Destructive Results of Envy...

 

Challenge

The cost of living out his fantasy destroyed his life and the lives of others forever just because he envied the position and the power of a comic book character.

 

The chief priests and elders envied Jesus’ popularity with the people; his power to do the miraculous; his knowledge of and relationship with God, so they had him arrested.  Judas envied the wealth of of others, and ultimately chose money over his friend which resulted in Judas taking his own life.

 

  • •  Question:  What is it that you are running after, chasing, obsessively desiring, hoping will bring you fulfillment?

 

Combating Envy by being Thankful/Celebrate

  • •  Thankful for what you do have:  talents, money, possessions, and achievements.
  • •  Thankful for what God has given others:  talents, money possessions, and achievements.

 

Reading:  Peter’s words of advice...

1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 2:1-3