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Envy -
I Can’t
Believe Your Luck
Proverbs 14:30
As we continue our look at Heart Diseases I have often wondered why
these are so damaging to our Christian walk. Surely there are other
subjects where we could and should spend our limited time together. But
when I have these questions I am reminded of what Jesus said about the
power of our heart in Mark 7. If you have you bibles today I want you to
open to Mark 7 and let’s read why these heart diseases are so critical
to our salvation.
Mark 7:20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things
come from within, and they defile a person.”
The last thing that Jesus said is why it is so important for us to spend
this time looking at Heart Diseases. All these evil things come from
within, and they defile a person.”
You might be a faithful church-goer and live a morally good life. You
might tithe regularly, and show up every time the doors are open. And
with all of this supposed “holiness” still lived a defiled life because
of the condition of your heart. And so it is today as we discuss our
next Heart Disease.
Socrates said, "Envy is the daughter of pride, the author of murder and
revenge, the father of secret treason, the perpetual tormenter of
virtue. Envy is the filthy slime of the soul; a venom, a poison, a
quicksilver, which consumeth the flesh and drieth up the marrow of the
bones."
You may have the outer appearance of a Saint and yet harbor enough envy
in your heart to damn your soul. Envy is such a common sin, and I would
be willing to guarantee that everyone of us here has had some problem
with the green-eyed monster at some time or another. But do you know
that in all of my years in the church I have never heard someone confess
the sin of envy and seek out prayers from the body.
This is probably because it is so rampant in our society and our
History.
In Genesis 4 we see that it was envy that caused Cain to kill his
brother Abel.
In Genesis 26:14 we see that the Philistines envied Isaac because "he
had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of
servants," and stopped up his wells.
In Genesis 30 we see that Rachel envied Leah because she was barren and
Leah was the mother of several children.
In Genesis 37 we see that because of envy, Joseph's brothers sold him
into Egyptian slavery.
And that’s just in the book of Genesis.
If you remember, it was even the sin of envy that caused the Pharisees,
Sadducees, and members of the Sanhedrin to seek out ways to and
eventually crucify our Lord.
And the struggle against envy is still here today. Let’s take a pop
quiz, don’t worry its all yes or no.
Did you enjoy living in your two bedroom frame house until your best
friend moved into a three bedroom and den, brick home?
Did you enjoy driving your two year old pick up truck until you see your
friend drive up to the church in a brand new F250?
Were you happy with your 7 day vacation to the mountains until you saw
the pictures of your friends vacation on the 4 day cruse?
Well, if so, these are indications of envy!
Now some of you may be thinking, you know envy is not a bad thing. As a
matter of fact envy is a great motivator. It is what motivates me to
desire to be better, get better, and take advantage of everything God
has to offer.
And you can disagree with me about this heart disease if you want but
let me share with you what the wisest man who ever lived had to say
about the subject.
Solomon writes in Proverbs 14:30 that envy is likened to cancer of the
bone. "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness
of the bones."
And God Himself associates envy with some pretty heavy company.
In 1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and
envy and all slander.
In Galatians 5:19-21 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 in Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They
were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness,
malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.
They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty,
boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless,
heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who
practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give
approval to those who practice them.
As we look at the various sins which envy is associated with we can
begin to get a glimpse of God's estimation of envy! Even though we would
not dream of being guilty of many of the vices enumerated in these
lists, we are guilty of envy . And God says that envy is just as
destructive and soul-damning as any of the other sins listed.
And we have got to be on guard against envy because it can happen so
quickly in our body.
Members of this church can become envious of one another.
Just as the one talent man can become jealous of the five talent man, a
brother can be envious of another brother who is receiving just
recognition and praise for a job well done. Our hearts and minds begin
filling with:
”So what’s the big deal? I could have done it and done it better. All
they had to do was ask but I guess I am not in the inner circle so I
never get asked to do anything. The only thing they want me here for is
my money anyway so I’ll show them I’m not putting anything in the
collection plate. As a matter of fact I don’t think that I’ll be back
tonight. And why should I come back, I’m not good enough to help. I’m a
better person that he is anyway. I never had to ask the church to pray
for my relationship with my wife. I bet he was having an affair and just
acted like he wasn’t getting along with his wife, But I know what the
problem was…”
When envy enters our church family it leads so well to other things like
rehashing some old, repented of, forgiven sin in the life of the one
envied; or we might be tempted to let our tongue fly off the hinge and
stab the one envied with some nasty statement or jealous prediction.
And it doesn’t just stop in the pew because Preachers can become envious
of one another.
We preachers struggle as much as the rest of the congregation. Preachers
envy the success of another preacher, their success in baptizing folks,
bring the wandering back home, or his ability in promoting a loving
atmosphere of family and prayer.
You know I am very saddened when I read some of the publications of our
brotherhood when they try to defame the character and jeopardize the
influence of a brother in Christ. I don’t have to agree with you and you
don’t have to agree with me on every issue. What matters is that we
agree with God. But there are some envious brethren who hide behind the
guise of trying to protect the church from a false teacher, and really
they are letting their envy show.
And I believe that Congregations can be envious of one another.
It is a shame that the new ABC’s of church work has become Attendance,
Buildings, and Contribution. Congregations will envy a sister church
because she has a larger membership, better attendance, larger
contributions, or a better building.
Our envy of others has taken us from thinking that we are the only true
church to the mindset that says This church is the only true church.
While working in Atlanta we received a letter about every 3 to 6 months
from a neighboring congregation that had withdrawn from a sister church.
The letter was always the same: We the Elders of such and such church of
Christ are writing this letter to inform you of our responsibility to
withdraw from the apostate group who call themselves the such and such
church of Christ.
I always wanted to write that church a letter saying that our church
withdraws from your church because of your error in doctrine. The bible
does not teach that one church can withdraw from another. So for your
error in withdrawal doctrine we withdraw from you. But I doubt that they
would have gotten the humor.
This spirit among the brethren so often generates implications,
innuendos and slurs. "My brethren, these things ought not so to be." I
believe that Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:14-15 is true in our
relationships with sister congregations as well.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with
those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Church this morning I want you to know that God shows us through His
scripture that having a spirit of envy will not only damage your soul
but He shows that it is suicidal.
Do you remember the story of Daniel? Daniel was taken to Babylon, and
after the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon, Darius the King of the
Medes gave Daniel a high position in His court.
The other satraps were very envious of Daniel and set out to capture him
in a compromising position, but as hard as they looked, they could find
nothing wrong. So they decided that they would have to make Daniel do
something wrong because he believed and trusted in God.
So they wrote a new law that would make Daniel’s faith illegal, And they
approached King Darius with flowery words: "O King Darius, live forever!
The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have
all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree
that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days,
except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king,
issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in
accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be
taken back."
King Darius signed the law. And of course Daniel, was not going to
disobey God, so he went back to his house opened his windows toward
Jerusalem, and prayed. The other administrators were standing near by,
they watched him kneel to pray, and then they marched off to the king to
let the king know what Daniel was up to. King Darius had no choice. He
gave the order and Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s Den.
Everyone went home happy, except for king Darius. He could not eat. He
could not sleep. At the first sign of light in the sky, king Darius got
up and hurried to the lion’s den. He called out.... “Daniel, servant of
the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to
rescue you from the lions?"
And to his absolute amazement he heard Daniel answer. "O king, live
forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.
They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor
have I ever done any wrong before you."
Darius ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den, and then he ordered
his soldiers to round up all the men who had had been part of the
conspiracy to get rid of Daniel, their families, and even servants. Now
they were thrown in the lions den. Even before they hit the ground, the
lions were eating them.
I believe that this story from Scripture foreshadows the destiny of
those who live envious lives. There are other scriptures that back up
this claim.
Paul says in Romans 1 that the envious will be victims of eternal death.
After listing envy along with many other vices, and in verse 32 he
concludes by saying, "they which commit such things are worthy of
death."
Paul takes it a step further in his latter to the church in Galatia when
he says that envy is one of the works of the flesh. He emphasizes the
point in Galatians 5:21 when he says "They which do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God."
So how do we rid our heart of envy?
We need to start at the same place we start every week. We must put on
love.
Love is the remedy for a heart full on envy. The Prophet Ezekiel says in
Ezekiel 35:11 that envy is born of hate.
Well if envy is the spawn of hate then it can be cured by the opposite.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4 that "Love does not envy."
Can you picture a mom getting bent out of shape because her child has
excelled? Imagine Trafton walking in our home and announcing the good
news. He has been picked the student of the year, and Trista’s stomach
beginning to turn and getting ulcers because of Trafton’s award? Well
that’s just silly, Trista would be ecstatic because she loves her son
and wants what’s best for him. Why? Love!
The second thing we need to do is just Grow up,
If we stay in I Corinthians 13 starting with the 11th verse we read:
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
When I grew up I gave up acting like a little child. Well Paul what did
you give up, how does a little child act? Go up a few verses: I quit
wanting what I don’t have. I don’t strut, I don’t have a swelled head, I
don’t force myself on others, It isn’t always “me first,” I don’t fly
off the handle, I don’t keep score of the sins of others, and I don’t
revel when others grovel,
Spiritually mature people long for the blessings of God for themselves
and others. To be Spiritually grown up is to live a life that wants more
than anything in this world not things but relationships, relationships
with God, His people, and those whom He loves.
Next we must remember that we are members of the same body.
We touched on this earlier but maybe I need to say it another way. It is
ridiculous for us to act envious of anyone in the body of Christ. We are
all supposed to be working towards that same goal, the saving of the
world. We were all blessed, by God, with different talents and skills so
that as a whole we could fulfill His purpose in this life.
My left arm does not envy my right arm because it is stronger; and my
hands are not envious of my feet because I can run on my feet. They all
work together for the greater good.
Every part of me by itself is imperfect but together they make up the
whole. Every church around us, including this one, is imperfect but if
we work together we can truly change this area for the body of Christ.
Finally we have got to crucify self
If envy is really born of pride and selfishness, then the envious person
considers every blessing of another a curse to himself. So out of self
esteem, and selfishness, the envier reacts negatively to the blessings
of others.
That’s is why we must learn humility and the crucifixion of self. Paul
says in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me.
I pray that we could say the same.
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