Eliminate Envy
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. —Genesis 37:3-4
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, —Acts 7:9
“You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” —John 12:19
8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. —Mark 15:8-11
Two Causes of Envy
1) Unhealthy
Four Categories We Covet:
a.
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d.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
2) Desire for
Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
Two Results of Envy
1) Doing the
Psalm 118:22-23 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
Titus 3:3 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.
2) Broken
Two Envy Eliminators
1)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. —Galatians 5:16
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;”
2)
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. —Philippians 4:11-12
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5