Envy

Introduction:

· A tale of two students

· Maybe it’s not a boat; maybe a promotion; success; makes the team, gets the part

WE’REGOING TO LOOK AT THE SECOND CAPITAL VICE THIS MORNING – ENVY. THIS STORY WILL HAVE A FAMILIAR RING TO IT.

I) The Anatomy of Envy

A. The Nature of Envy

i. The Story in a nutshell: When Desire Leads to Murder

1. A king who wants a garden, and pouts & can’t eat when he can’t have it

2. A plot to frame Naboth ends in Naboth’s death

ii. A mirror: Ahab illustrates the sin of envy

1. A palace…to a vineyard: Comparison à Discontent àenvy: (vv. 1-2)

2. APPLICATION: hiredàone w. a similar job, better benefitsà POUT!

B. The Nuance of Envy:

i. Greed is about desire while Envy is about status

1. Both focus on an object (a vineyard? A job? An achievement?) but greed wants it, or more of it while envy wants the status that it brings

2. Naboth is a king à therefore he should have it! (vs. 7)

ii. APLICATION: Where do we see Envy in our lives?

1. Some: Discontent with what we have (You see the flaws in it!)

2. Some: Nitpick, criticize, someone who got promoted before you?

3. Some: We question God’s wisdom in distributing grace to others

4. EXAMPLE: Amadeus

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS?

II) The Results of Envy

A. God’s Judgment

i. Envy Aims at the Death of Others

1. From envy to anger to death (6x!) (vv. 10, 13, 14, 15, 16)

2. EXAMPLE: A single person grows envious of a dating couple and plots to break them up in hopes she’ll go out with me

ii. The story Continues where it might have left off  (vv. 17-24)

1. The story should have ended…but God steps in to right this evil

2. A & J would suffer the same fate they inflicted(vv. 19, 23, 22)

3. His family would be cut off from the covenant people(vs. 22, 25-26)

B. How Can We Combat the Sin of Envy in Our Hearts?

i. Three practices for fighting Envy

1. The discipline of gratitude (JOURNAL) helps us appreciate all we have

2. The discipline of service helps us seek the good of others

3. The discipline of Generosity helps us fight our desire for more

ii. A glimmer of hope (vv. 27-28)

1. fasting (from envy) to fasting (from sorrow) and God grants a reprieve

2. God’s patience & mercy with undeserving people knows no limits

Transition:

III) The Solution to Envy

A. The Root of Envy

i. If you struggle with Envy: Confess!

1. Some allowed envy a long leash and have seen its destruction

2. Humble yourself before God and trust his merciful pardon!

ii. If you struggle with Envy: Expose the root of Envy

1. Envy isn’t just wanting stuff, it’s wanting stuff for the status it brings

2. At your heart: You believe that “my worth is in what I own.”

3. Paul: “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Phil. 3:4-7)

Philippians 3:4–7 ESV

though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

B. The Antidote to Envy

i. We need not build our worth on what we have because of a Greater Naboth

1. Jesus was a “victim” of envyàdeath; wrongfully accused of blasphemy, put out of the city, and executed

2. But because of him, we will NOT be cut off, but brought in!

ii. God’s love is freely given to me in Christ

1. Contentment comes from knowing whose we are not what we have er I

2.

Transition:

Conclusion

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