Category: Envy

One of the best aspects of God’s word is the willingness of the Holy Spirit to reveal the faults of His people as well as their positive attributes. This helps us greatly, as we do not improperly elevate the efforts of men, knowing they are subject to frailties and sin as are we.

Because of this, the emphasis of salvation by grace has value for us as does the realization that the imperfection of all men preclude salvation by merit.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

These things are born out by the imperfections of Adam, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s children, Moses, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and a host of others throughout the Old Testament. They were all great men, to be honored and respected, but that is all they were — men. Subject to the same failures and mistakes that trouble us all. Continue reading “They Are Just Like Us!” →

In James 3, the Holy Spirit contrasted godly wisdom and the wisdom of the world. A main consideration is the character of the individual. We must not only be right, we must also be good!

Audio

Podcast Number 57

Envy destroyed the life of King Saul. He could not stand the success David had as God’s annointed. That and other scriptural examples show the dangerous consequences of the sin of envy.

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AOTS Number 22

Envy is a “rottenness to the bones”, hurtful both to the envious one and his object. It should be replaced by love.

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The Bible records for us an amazing feat, performed by a young man of faith. I refer to the slaying of Goliath by young David. The great victory of David over Goliath was a victory which made all of Israel grateful. This included Saul, who took David into his house where he was befriended by Saul’s son Jonathan (cf. I Sam. 18:1-5).

However, the friendship of Saul and David was not destined to last. It was destroyed by one of the most insidious weapons Satan has in his arsenal, the sin of envy. David performed in battle so well that the people began to talk of his prowess. The women of Israel sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7).

Notice Saul’s response to all of this. “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed {but} thousands. Now {what} more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

So many emotions resulted from the envy of Saul. Anger, jealousy, paranoia, all led to murderous intent. On a number of occasions Saul tried to have David killed:

• Threw a spear at him while David was playing music (1 Sam. 18:11).
• Duplicitously plotted his fall at the hands of the Philistines (1 Sam. 18:25). Note after the Lord delivered David, we read in verse 29, “And Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.”
• Instructed Jonathan and his servants to kill David (1 Sam. 19:1).
• Threw another spear at him (1 Sam. 19:10).
• David fled, and Saul pursued him until his own death at Mount Gilboa (1 Sam. 31).

The Lord was not with Israel during the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. Saul and his three sons were killed, including Jonathan, and the Philistines overran the cities of the Israelites.

It can be said that the envy of Saul ruined the rest of his life. His realization that David was the anointed, future king disturbed Saul so much that he became obsessed with his attempt to have David killed. This is a striking example of the terrible power envy can have. It is the first step in a progression of sins which can end in such tangibly damaging sins as slander, gossip, violence, and even murder.

Other examples of envy and its consequences:

• Jews delivered Jesus out of envy (Mt. 27:18).
• Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas from Antioch of Pisidia because of envy (Acts 13:45,50).
• The Corinthians divided in part from envy (I Cor. 3:1-4).
• Some preached Christ from envy, supposing to add affliction to Paul’s chains (Phil. 1:15-16).

At one time, we all were guilty of envy. But, brethren, that should not now be. We ought all to examine ourselves, and purge envy from us. It is not proper for children of God (cf. Titus 3:3-7).