Envy

Arrows of Satan series:

Envy

Gen. 26:12-22

Theme: God shows us how to deal with envy in our lives.

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We are in a current series entitled Arrows of Satan. Last week we learned Satan is a real person and will throw arrows which the Bible calls fiery darts to keep us from God. He tries to stand in the way of our relationship with God. He bombards us daily with arrows and last week the first arrow we studied is unbelief. Satan seeks to get us to not believe God’s Word and God Himself.

There is another arrow which is quite sinister. It is an attitude and can be hidden from others. It is the attitude of envy. Envy is the desire to possess another person’s gifts, possessions, position, or achievements. It is a resentful desire and in our consumer-oriented society, envy goes after another person’s material possession or personal status. Envy is the desire to have what we don’t have and believe we deserve it. This is why stealing is such a common problem today.

This arrow is shot at us when we look on social media at the highlight reels of our friends. This arrow is shot at us when we are passed over for promotion. This arrow is shot at when someone gets something we want. This arrow is shot when someone is given special recognition or honor we don’t think they deserve. This arrow is shot when someone dates or marries someone we think we should marry.

In the passage we just read, we learn in verse 14 that the “Philistines envied him.” Notice in verses 12-13 a description of Isaac’s life.

There are two considerations in dealing with envy

1. The crime of envy

Sometimes people want to water down or sugar coat envy. You might in your mind or heart make envy less of a sin than it is. Believers are guilty of envy as well as nonbelievers. Believers are just better at disguising envy. They might say something like: it is God’s grace on that individual or God has sure been good to him or her. Well, both of those truths apply to us whether we are given these things or not.

God richly blessed Isaac not because he was such a great believer, but God fulfilled His promise to Israel through him. It is odd when someone is blessed by God that others will envy them. Envy screams selfishness and pride for it says I should have that blessing rather than Isaac. One hundred percent of what he did, God blessed it. Notice he farmed the land and God gave him a hundredfold harvest. He multiplied Isaac’s work and people took notice.

Isaac did not put anything on Facebook or Instagram. It was apparent God was blessing him and envy began to set in over God’s blessing on his efforts. Though it is not recorded in Scripture, but probably others envied him besides the Philistines.

Here is a question to consider: “Is it easier to be happy with someone who is blessed or be sad when someone is suffering?”

When God chooses to bless a man, we should be happy for them rather than envy them. When someone is blessed, Satan will throw the arrow of envy which is a negative attitude towards the person blessed to others.

“The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.” (unknown)

Isaac became not just great but very great. Greatness in God’s eyes is so much different than in man’s eyes. It was not just what he did that God blessed but God blessed him personally. The reason God blessed Isaac is because of His promise vv. 3-5. God is true to His Word.

God blessed Him with flocks and herds. There was an abundance of possessions God gave him. It seems the more a person is given, the more envious people become of them.

You know when you put your eyes on the gifts and take them off the Giver, it is very easy to become envious of others.

God blessed him with servants also. We certainly don’t support servants today but in ancient Israel people would pay their debt by servitude. We don’t operate that way today but many are enslaved to Visa or Mastercard rather than a person. God had given him many who would serve with Isaac and God blessed also. God is highlighting His blessing upon Isaac and the blessing is so great that the Philistines envied him.

This reminds me of megachurch pastors who have large crowds and a big church staff. Other preachers would envy them and criticize them for what God had given them. This is just plain sin. This is the reason God has not given the critics any more ministry than they have currently.

Envy is rooted in an internal sin “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,” (Romans 1:29)

Envy is counted in the works of the flesh “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)

The Philistines envied Isaac and we expect those without Christ to have envy. It is a part of their sin nature. Even in history envy has been the cause of some the greatest of crimes. The second notable sin of the world is the murder of Abel which was prompted by envy. Cain could not bear that Abel is more acceptable to God than himself. More than likely the great many persecutions and martyrdoms suffered by the people of God in every age has been due to the same cause. A great many of the worst sins of the tongue are the product of envy.

Stealing is nothing more than envy taken to an action step.

Envy is connected with jealousy though not the same. Jealousy is more of an attitude of resentment or rival to another person.

“Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own.” Amanda Metcalf

God has blessed you as much as anyone else. As we reflect on His blessings to us, we don’t have time to look at others with their blessings.

“Man will do many things to get himself loved; he will do all things to get himself envied.” Mark Twain

There are times when people will do things to make people envious. It might be they try to outdress someone or get a better job or get more education or exercise more than others. Satan is ready with his arrow of envy throwing right at you.

The second consideration

2. The cure for envy

While Satan throws the fiery dart as it is called in Ephesians, we are given a shield of protection over the dart. God will empower us to overcome envy through the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.” Jerry Bridges

If you don’t know Him today as your personal Savior, you can know Him. When we realize we are sinners and cannot go to heaven on our own, we must come to Jesus and accept Him as our personal Savior. Romans 10:13

When you know Jesus Christ, He is your contentment. Envy is Satan’s arrow thrown at you regularly to make you discontent with Jesus.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11–12)

Verse 15 teaches another important truth about the cure. Notice the Philistines filled up the wells. Their envy became so out of control, they wanted to hurt and destroy Isaac and the Israelites. Isaac could have sat around and moped over his loss, but here is the start of the cure for envy.

Verse 18-dig another well. Isaac recognized his responsibility for his family and for his country. He dug other wells. In other words, we focus on what God has called us to do. Rather than looking at others with envy, we fulfill our responsibility and calling before God.

Sometimes this arrow of envy will keep us from serving. One time I asked a lady to help us by playing the piano. She said, “Oh I only play for myself.” Why won’t you help us because we could really use your help? “Because I can’t play like Janet.” Wait a minute, we don’t serve because we can sing like so and so or play like so and so or teach like so and so. We serve because God has called us to serve Him. We may appreciate someone else’s gifts and abilities, but we also are to serve with what God has given us.

Whether it is driving the bus or serving in the nursery or helping with children’s classes or leading a connection group. Everyone has a place where God can use them.

We have to learn to be content where God has placed us and what He has given us.

Verses 23-25 God blessed Isaac even more because he chose to the serve the Lord.

Today, Satan may be throwing his arrows of envy at your life. Perhaps is keeping you from serving the Lord. God has given you the power to overcome this area in your life though Jesus Christ. Don’t’ let envy steal your peace “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30)

If you don’t Jesus as your Savior, will you accept Him today?

Christian, will you come and ask God to help you overcome the struggle of envy. Simply decide to occupy until He comes.