Antidote For Envy | 2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | Sep 26, 2021

Welcome bact to the house of one and the only living God and His name is Jesus!

We will continue our ongoing “Enemy’s weapons” series and today we will be continuing with Part-2 from last week’s topic, “Antidote for Envy!”

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”

David’s troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God’s persecuted people, and the barbarity of their persecutors. But David’s safety must be ascribed to God’s providence.

Envy is the filling of discontent and hatred towards other person, since it is likely that the other person has more than you.

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.”

Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us, and these only. As a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked words and actions that come from them. A spiritual understanding of the law of God, and a sense of the evil of sin, will cause a man to seek for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to keep down the evil thoughts and affections that work within.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Envy is a heartbreaking emotion if not controlled. In corporate world, there is a professional envy, there is a holiday envy, marriage celebration envy etc. You name it and envy is all around us and this tool of enemy is used to trap us.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Envy also invites comparison and it is a sign of malice and guile in the heart; and hinders our profiting by the word of God.

Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.

When you start comparing yourself

Illustration: Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Eventhough it is debatable whether or not Einstein said this, the idea is certainly a stimulating and thought provoking one.

In order to break free from the idea of comparing yourself to others, I believe you need to get off from social media for a while. The feeling of being lesser from someone is absolutely absurd and comparing ourselves with everybody is even laughable. We all are different and how is it even possible for us to be similar in our attributes of physical ability compared to others?

We have started getting jealous from unthinkable things such as someone’s job, children, house paints, location people are visiting etc.

People of God, if you feel getting jealous from someone on social media, you need a serious break and you need to be on guard.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If you start comparing yourself with someone else, trust, you will lose. Do not be a loser, rather seek God’s strength and stop comparing yourself with others and trust, this is going to be the most effective antidote for envy.

You are valuable in the sight of God, so are others. We who are His children, God is our heavenly father. and if He is doing something good for someone else, rejoice with them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Bible tells us to love our neighbors, that implies we need to not just love our neighbors, but also rejoice with them.

Saul wanted all the glory for himself when he won the war, since David was loved by all of them. This brewed jealousy amd envy im Saul’s heart and this is when he fell into enemy’s trap.

If you have to overcome the jealousy and envious nature, you need to be contented and satisfied with all things you have. Be content with your salary, your home, your relationships etc.

But godliness with contentment is great gain,

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian’s desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content.

Sometimes we feel that God isn’t doing anything for me and that God doesn’t listen to me or being dissatisfied with the place where we live.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Illustration: Socrates according to one of the renowned works says, “Wit and Wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle” once said, “An envious man waxeth lean with the fatness of his neighbors. Envy is the daughter of pride, the author of murder and revenge, the beginner of secret sedition and the perpetual tormentor of virtue. Envy is the filthy slime of the soul; a venom, a poison, or quicksilver which consumeth the flesh and drieth up the marrow of the bones.”

Do not allow to let envy work in you that is developed by the enemy, rather fix your eyes unto God and seek His strength to develop the antidote to keep you content and satisfied in Christ.

If you feel you feel jealous and envious with few things, individuals or anything you do not have, then you are in a seriius problem and enemy is trapping you. However, we, the children of Christ, have hooe in Him. The power of God will work and help you break the bondage of jealousy and envy and satisfy you.