Let Jesus Change Our Heart ...1. What is envy?The dictionary defines this term as “a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc.” The Bible also agrees with this definition.
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4 – ESV)
2. What is the source of envy?
For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23, NET)
3. What triggers envy?
A. Immaturity: Joseph was envied by his brothers because Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph, (Genesis 37:3-4)
B. Pride: Daniel was envied by his colleagues because they didn’t want to submit to Daniel’s authority, (Daniel 6:1-5)
C. Leadership insecurity: David was envied by King Saul for this reason, (1 Samuel 18:6-9)
D. Low self esteem and inferiority: Leah was envied by Rachel. Rachel had lost her self esteem and felt inferior to Leah because she was barren, (Genesis 30:1)
E. Greed for fame and public approval: The Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, the Sadducees and scribes didn’t hate Jesus because they thought He is a blasphemer. But Jesus was much popular than them. This made them envy Jesus, (Matthew 27:18)
F. Uncontrolled desire for material gain: In ancient civilizations a common practice among men was to kill his neighbor to possess something that belongs to the victim (Genesis 12:10-13). This could have been cattle, wealth, most probably the other man’s wife. Lack of material and carnal fulfillment lead them to envy against each other.
G. Frustration: Christians frustrate upon seeing the wicked prosper and envy them. (Psalm 73:3)
3. Why envy is evil?
A. Envy is poisonous
The Bible says, A tranquil spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones. (Proverbs 14:30, NET) It is healthy to be content with what you have than to envy the other person. It’s medically proven too.
B. Envy is an absence of love
Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. (1 Corinthians 13:4, NET)
C. God strictly prohibits envy
I. So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (1 Peter 2:1, NET)
II. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another. (Galatians 5:26, NET)
III. Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. (Romans 13:13, NET)
D. It prevents us from inheriting the eternal life
I. envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God! (Galatians 5:21, NET)
II. Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:32, NET)
E. Divisions in the church
Envy causes competition and competition is a one reason why the unity and harmony is missing from today’s church.
4. How do I overcome envy
I have seen that members of the church can become envious of one another, Preachers can become envious of one another, congregations can become envious of one another. It’s important to that we know how to overcome this sin.
A. Watch out for your emotions and thoughts
Ask God to give you grace to be satisfied with what you have.
B. Seek for emotional maturity
It was natural for Jacob to love Joseph than his brothers because Joseph was born in his old age and he was the youngest of the family. It’s normal for parents to love the youngest of the family most. Joseph’s brothers were emotionally immature. Ask God to help you to mature emotionally. Never give room for self pity.
C. Submit to authority as to God
People who conspired against Daniel out of their envy did so because they disliked to submit to Daniel’s authority. Submit to every authority. Authority in the work place, church etc.
D. Deal with your insecurity
Saul had no relationship with God at all and he became an insecure leader. He became afraid of David and that fear turned into envy. Out of envy he sought to get rid of David once and forever.
The only way to get rid of insecurity is to form a strong and intimate relationship with God. Insecurity can’t control us when we know that God is in control of everything. Your security should not derive from your titles and positions. God should be the source of your security.
E. Deal with your law self esteem and inferiority
Remember, you are valuable in the eyes of God. Jesus died for you because he believes that you are a very important person though you are not perfect.
Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has.
F. Do not seek after fame and public approval
This is the problem with many pastors and preachers today. They seek after fame and the approval of the public. Remember, we are God’s servants only. We can take pride in our accomplishments. Glorifying God and extending His kingdom must be the end goal of everything we do.
It’s good to have a huge congregation, titles and honors. The question is what motivates your efforts and achievements. God doesn’t measure you by these. Rather by you inner qualities.
When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, “Surely, here before the LORD stands his chosen king!” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7, NET)
G. Do not entertain greediness
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17, NET)
God provides our needs. Not our wants, (James 4:2-3) How do you know that your need is not really a need but a desire of your greed? Do you need something because you want to compete with your neighbor? Do you need something because you want to compete with your brothers and sisters? If the answer yes, you are acting out of your greed.
H. Don’t leave room for frustration
I. It’s natural for the wicked to prosper for limited time. God may take years before He blesses you but those blessings last much longer, (Proverbs 10:22).
II. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. God will take care of the rest.
Think for a moment. Who are the people in your life that you envy because they have something that you don’t. Confess it to the Holy Spirit and and ask the Lord to forgive you.
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