| The
Rotten Effects of Envy I. Envy’s Destructive Appearances in Human
History A.There are four people in the world before envy shows up; then there
are three people (Gen 4). B.Envy shows up in the relationship of Leah and
Rachel, sisters married to Jacob (Gen 29). C.Envy celebrates a triumph as
Rachel’s son Joseph is hated and sold by his brothers (Gen 37). D.Envy makes
appearance after appearance, even at the end of Jesus’ life (Matt
27:18). II. Envy’s Ongoing Insidious Behavior A.Envy
_____________: “If I come out on top, I feel pride; if you come out on top, I
feel envy.” B.Envy _____________: “You have or are what I don’t have or am
not, and I have to change that.” C.Envy _____________: “This is what I really
want even more than I want God.” (1 Sam 18:6-9) D.Envy acts out: “If I can’t…
I would rather mourn your success and rejoice in your pain.” 1.Against
_______ (Luke 15:27-30) 2.Against the ____________ of my envy (anti-Phil
2:1-4) E.Envy ___________. “Envy is the great leveler. If it cannot level
things up, it will level them down. Rather than have anyone happier
than itself, it will see us all miserable together” (D. Sayers). 1._______ (Prov 14:30) 2.________ (1 Cor
13:4) 3.____________ (2 Cor 5:14-15) F.Envy is always selfish. Envy keeps
score. Envy exalts me to the center of everything. Envy leads to spiritual disaster. III.
God’s Antidote for Envy A.Envy is evil fruit borne from a rotten heart
that has wandered away from God (Rom 1:28-29). B.Envy is a sin that can be
purged from my heart (1 Pet 2:1). C.Envy is a work of the flesh that can be
put to death (Gal 5:19-26; Col 3:5). D.God provides hope to the envious
through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:3-7). E.______ is the God-shaped antidote for
envy (Matt 22:36-40; Rom 12:9-10,14-21; Luke 6:27-28). |
