Seven Deadly Sins; Envy

Introduction

Recap Series

Pride - We are not to think of ourselves more

Gluttony - We are to be filled with the spirit

Anger - Vengeance belongs to the Lord

Sloth - We were created for good works

Greed - We are to be content in the Lord because He will never leave us or abandon us

Today - Envy

Progressive Dinner - when we get together for the main course people asked, “Where were you for the appetizer and what did you have?”

I joked about envy then

I think that we believe jealous and covet are synonyms to envy

though they are closely related, not quite the same

Jealous = Want what I do not have

not all jealousy is sin

covet = want what you have

10th commandment, we are not to covet what our neighbor has

envy = angry you have what you have

Envy leads to all kinds of sin because it now causes me to be angry that you have what I do not have

1 Samuel 18:6–9 (CSB)

6 As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments.

7 As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.

8 Saul was furious and resented this song. “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.

PRAY

Tell the back story to what is happening

David defeats Goliath

Israelites win the battle

Saul decides that he wants to keep David with him as a commander in his army

not letting him go home to work with his father as a shepherd

he sends him out into battle and David is successful

Now the fighting men, along with David and the king are coming home

the text records a song that was sang as they came back

what we know…

the women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands”

we know that the word translated but, is also the word used for “and”

what we do not know

was this the entire song

there could have been more, but Saul was focused on this part, making it the only part that mattered

What was the intent of the song

because we read it in the context of Saul getting mad, we read it that way

they could have been singing praise of Saul and the entire army for all they had done, not intending to slight the king

their intent does not change the Saul’s reaction

Envy elevates ourselves above others, causing us to look down on God’s blessings and despise our neighbor.

Three Fuels to Envy

In order to not fall into this sin we need to recognize how we fall or what fuels the sin of envy in our lives

Envy is always possible, waiting under the surface to rear its ugly head

It is not just for those on social media, the young, the old, the rich or the poor

envy is for anyone who falls into the trap of being more in awe with things that are created instead of the creator

People in my neighborhood

Not the way that we look at celebrities

we may wish for some of the things that they have

there may be jealousy, covetousness

but I am not sure that we are angry or hate them because they have it

what those in my neighborhood have so should I

why does he get that, he doesn’t deserve it

we will judge the way they work

how we perceive that they act, or how godly they are

why don’t I get that, I deserve it

because we are not content in the Lord, greedy for more things (see last weeks message)

we long for the things

material things, honor, or praise that people around us get

Saul did not look at what kings in greater kingdoms or even lesser kingdoms and want what they had

he looked at a servant of his, somebody marching into the city with him and was envious of praise he was receiving

We look at those things that are close by and in view everyday and feel some sort of slight because we did not have.

Memetic Desires

What is memetic desires

idea proposes that all desire is merely an imitation of another's desire,

and the desire only occurs because others have deemed said object as worthwhile.

This means that a desirable object is only desired because of societal ideas, and is not based on personal preference like most believe.

things hold a higher value because somebody is enjoying or receiving it

both to somebody who see the owner enjoying it

when somebody is driving a new vehicle, we see them enjoying it, suddenly the vehicle that I have been perfectly fine with is not so good

and to the owner when realized that it is desired by another loves it all the more

they feel great because they have something you want

I am sure if they would have sang about Saul killing his thousands and left out David, Saul would have been fine

but here is David receiving something that he did not know he wanted until David received it

A Watchful Eye

We are always looking for something that will satisfy more than what we have

it is so easy to think that we are missing out, or that there must be more

Looking for things that satisfy leads to envy of those who have

instead of looking to christ to satisfy

Saul was king!

he had anything that he wanted

there was not anything that he could not ask for that would not be given to him in an instant

yet he was envious of one of his servants because of a song

it is easy for us to look at Saul in judgment

yet, you dear Christian, have the spirit of the living God dwelling inside of you and you constantly look for more

like Adam and Eve in the garden

dwelling with God daily was not enough

they had a desire to be like God and ate the fruit

Four Antidotes to Envy

It has been the goal of the series to recognize the sin, but show us the way out

last week we talked about greed, but the remedy is the contentment that is available through Christ who empowers us

our four antidotes is not new laws that we are to write up

for instance, I cannot just simply decide to not look at social media as if that is the only place that lead us to envy

or to walk around with blinders on and not see things

the problem of envy is not in our eyes, but in our hearts

so the solution is not preventing us to see, but to cleanse our hearts

Know God’s Riches

not in a prosperity way

just because he has everything does not mean that you will receive it all this side of heaven

Psalm 50:10 (CSB)

10 for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

understand you cannot enrich him

meaning I cannot give him, sacrifice to him anything that he does not already possess

more than that, he will never run out that he cannot take care of you

others receiving does not limit your ability to receive

For Saul, there was only so much praise to be given and David received a bigger portion

was their song one that limited the praise of Saul?

Know Your Identity in Christ

We are so forgetful, like the Israelites wandering through the desert

it is easy for us to say, I know I am saved, but…

we think of salvation as an event in the past and now we wait until we get to heaven to receive his blessing

you are a child of God… not will be when we are with them

right now, as we walk this earth, we are his children

Galatians 4:4–5 (CSB)

4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

if you read on that adoption comes with an inheritance, the spirit in us crying out abba father

Saul was king!

Saul did not earn this title, he was not born into it, but he was anointed by God himself

the praise of David did not change this

praise, possessions or lack there of does not change who we are in Christ

Know What You Deserve

Envy says that we deserve what they have or at the least, they do not deserve what they have

it is interesting the standard that we set on who is or is not worthy of things

I think it might always be a tougher standard for others than it is myself

This is such an important part of the gospel because it sets the way that we view others

I have earned death, wrath, nothing good

the bible says that all my good works, the things I do to prove myself are just filthy rags

they are no credit of good to me at all

there are no extra credit points because we did a good thing for the wrong reasons

Romans 6:23 (CSB)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

it is important because when I realize what I am owed compared to what I have received, how can I possibly think I deserve more, or whatever that person has

Saul deserved no praise… he was no better than anyone else

he certainly did not deserve to be king, yet here he was

remembering what he deserved, compared to what he received would have kept him humble and happy for the other person

Know Who and How to Love

Started the series looking at pride

that we needed to clothe ourselves in humility

stated then that we had to start with pride because so many sins stem from that

envy is no different

we love ourselves so much

how can I stand to see you have something that I deserve

the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself

that does not mean that we simply want for others the things we want for ourselves

Romans 12:15 (CSB)

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

The desire would be for God’s king to be happy the Lord is using a young man to serve and win battles for God’s kingdom

Saul only loves Saul

even offering up his own daughters in effort to kill David

our sinful hearts are murderous and hate filled

Paul says do not love hypocritically

rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel Reflect and Discuss

1. How does this passage help you understand God?

2. How does this passage of Scripture exalt Jesus?

3. What does God’s sending the evil spirit to Saul signify?

4. Who are the characters that love and support David in this chapter?

5. Where do you experience your deepest experience of jealousy? Why do you feel jealous? Is it based out of fear, threat, or something else? Write down your thoughts and discuss them with someone you trust.

6. How does it make you feel when others get recognition and you do not? Do you feel unloved, unrecognized, and undervalued? Why or why not?

7. Are you content with what God has proclaimed over your life through the gospel: deeply loved in Jesus, forgiven, and valued? Why or why not? Write down your thoughts.

8. What part of the gospel prayer stands out to you the most and warms your heart the most? Why? Write down your thoughts.

9. Jealousy is a powerful and debilitating emotion that can stay with us a long time. What obstacles prevent you from rejecting jealousy? Write down your thoughts and discuss them with someone you love and trust.

10. Take a moment to thank Jesus for the grace He has given in the cross and resurrection. Celebrate the good news that we are deeply loved, forgiven, and valued by Christ.