Sermon Tone Analysis

Envy

Galatians 5:21 (TPT)

21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

Envy.

A bad feeling stirred up because of the presence of something good in another person but lacking in oneself.

This emotion has received considerable attention from the authors of Scripture, theologians, and psychologists.

A surprising degree of unanimity characterizes both the secular and sacred views of envy; namely, envy is universal in its occurrence, is destructive in its impact on the human personality, and can become a dominant, invasive emotion if left unchecked.

While not a part of the well-known pantheon of vices such as greed, wrath, or jealousy, envy is a powerful emotion that deserves more attention than it usually receives.

Envy has several components

First, at least two persons are involved: the envier and the person being envied.

The presence of envy can be completely unknown by those around the envier, since no verbal communication regarding the envy must occur in order for it to be present

Second, the envier must be aware of some feature or facet of another’s life that he or she regards as good and that the envier feels is missing in his or her own life.

Envy can occur only when a person perceives himself or herself in a position inferior to another.

Hence the issue of self-esteem is related to the problem of envy.

Third, the envier experiences a sadness that the missing feature is not present in his or her own life.

When envy is a major feature of one’s own personality, life becomes a constant, dreary calculation of how others are better, and the self is saddened because of it.

Emulation is the positive counterpart of envy (Davidson, 1908).

Emulation similarly involves at least two people and a sense of inferiority or lack on the part of one of the two.

But the component of sadness is replaced by a desire to obtain the missing feature of life by achievement or growth.

Emulation sees the other person as a friend; envy sees the other as a rival.

Envy is selfish; emulation is constructive and geared toward change.

Envy often wishes harm to the other or rejoices if bad fortune befalls the envied person; emulation has a positive force.

Authors disagree on the precise difference between envy and jealousy.

Although they are related emotions, jealousy often involves three persons, is based in fear, and includes the strong desire to possess exclusively the item or person of desire.

Jealousy is wanting to hold on to what one already has, and envy is a sadness regarding what one does not have

In the Old Testament envy is described as a powerful enemy

(Envy) is also describe as a destructive force

The insidious emotion of envy was powerful in the life of Saul

(Many versions substitute “jealousy” for “envy” in these passages.)

In the New Testament the verb form for envy occurs one time, in Galatians 5:26, where the exhortation to avoid envy is strongly given.

Envy appears in lists of the acts of a sinful nature

Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counseling (Envy)

Genesis (Jacob Flees from Laban to Canaan (Genesis 31)

Jacob’s disputes with Laban and his sons

1. Contention with Laban’s sons causes Laban to look differently at Jacob (1–2)

a. Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s: It wasn’t that Jacob had taken anything belonging to Laban.

Rather, it was that his wealth was increasing in proportion to Laban’s wealth.

The problem wasn’t that Jacob stole; it was that Laban’s sons were filled with envy.

Envy will distort the truth.

Jacob had not taken anything of Laban’s, but envy will lie.

b.

The countenance of Laban … was not favorable toward him: The envy of Laban’s sons poisoned Laban’s heart against Jacob.

Before, he was entirely pleased with the agreement.

Envy is bad not only on its own, but also for the company it keeps:

For you are still carnal.

For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3).

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there (James 3:16).ii.

Instead, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy (1 Corinthians 13:4).iii.

God wants to deliver us from envy: For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (Titus 3:3).iv.

Envy is no small sin.

It put Jesus on the cross: For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy

The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling: Personal and Emotional Issues

(2 Definitions and Key Thoughts)

2 DEFINITIONS AND KEY THOUGHTS•

Jealousy and envy are siblings, the perverse children of a toxic mix of anger, anxiety-based insecurity, and an obsessive habit of comparing oneself (usually poorly) with others.•

There is also a root of fear in most jealousy—the fear of losing the love or praise of one’s object of love or affection.•

Envy wants what someone else has.•

Jealousy is being fearful that something one has attained will be taken.

Jealousy also involves a triangle—three people, one of which is the jealous person becoming fixated on a (usually misperceived) rival, who is viewed as competing for the attention of the third person.•

Scripture says that love as “strong as death” will produce powerful jealousy that is “as cruel as the grave” (Song of Sol.

8:6).•

Envy may be defined as wanting what someone else has, whether it is status, possessions, lifestyle, relationships, or characteristics.•

Left unchecked, envy can develop into malice, contempt, and destruction of others (see 1 Sam.

18:9 to see envy in the life of Saul).•

Envy manifests itself in the resentment of others’ prosperity.•

Envy will be evident in one’s dislike of another.

The envious person will not necessarily be aware that the dislike is prompted by envy.•

Envy is fueled by the expectation of deserving more success and recognition than another person.

Envy, therefore, is closely linked to pride and greed.•

Envy is the opposite of love.

Love rejoices over the good of another.

Envy seeks the destruction of another for the benefit of oneself.•

Envy is ultimately a rebellion against one’s own finiteness and God’s provision.

When people struggle with envy, they reject God’s provision as well as how God uniquely created them to be.•

Scripture tells us that the Lord is “a jealous God” (Exod.

34:14), but the Lord’s jealousy is righteous.

God is jealous for the church (2 Cor.

11:2).

Paul warns us, however, not to provoke the Lord to jealousy (1 Cor.

10:20–22).

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.

Causes of Envy and Jealousy

Dissatisfaction with God’s Provision: The person may see only what God hasn’t provided rather than what God has provided.

Comparison with Others: From early on, many have been conditioned to see themselves only in comparison to others—being smarter than, not as attractive as, more popular than, and so on.

Pride: Envy is driven by the false notion that a person “deserves” to have a life focused on his or her own personal gain and satisfaction.

Low Self-Esteem or Seeking Significance: When people don’t feel good about themselves, they will constantly seek to soothe their pain by seeking significance in their circumstances rather than finding their deepest needs met by Jesus Christ.

Value of Worldly Gain: People may seek money, status, appearance, talents, or achievements as evidence of their value and “place” in the world.

Expressions of Envy and Jealousy

Envy can be disguised in a multitude of ways.

Here are the most common manifestations:

Resentment toward Others: The person may be highly critical and judgmental of another person or persons.

Competition in Relationships: The desire to be the “top dog” in relationships may be indicative of a struggle with envy.

The person may exhibit a drive toward overachievement and exhibit a superior attitude toward others.

Depression: The person may become highly self-critical because he or she has not achieved what is desired and what the other person has.

Lack of Contentment: We live in a culture in which the media bombards us with the false notion that achieving more material gain will lead to greater happiness.

A person struggling with envy is rarely content with what God has provided.

Gossip about Others: Envious people constantly criticize the object of their envy.

Idolizing or Putting Others on a Pedestal.

Dissatisfaction with Life: People who are jealous often have thoughts of If only …

Charity rejoices in our neighbor’s good, while envy grieves over it.

Stages of Envy and Jealousy