Love does not Envy
Introduction
We all have difference weaknesses
Maybe sexual temptation, anger, self-pity, envy, gluttony, gossip
We commit all these sins
But we may have a difficulty in one particular area
As Christians – God is sanctifying us
The Holy Spirit dwells in us
We are being conformed to the image of Christ
We are to be ‘progressing’ in grace and victory in God
The grace of Jesus Christ gives us the power to overcome and conquer sin
This does not mean we cannot fall
His love teaches us to control our temper, to rejoice with others, to love purity, shames us when we gossip
We seek to please God because we love Him
We seek to love others
God’s love – never fails
It bears all things
It hopes all things
A supernatural love from God
Tonight: Love does not envy
We do need to look at envy
The thrust of the passage – what is love: longsuffering and kind (positive attributes)
A series of 8 negatives (v4-6)
Why do we need the negative?
The love of God produces such character that we can overcome in these areas
We are not to be fooled in thinking we have much love, when we envy
Overview:
What is envy and its damning effects?
How the love of God overcomes envy
What is envy and its damning effects?
Examples of envy:
The devil
He tempted Adam and Eve to the same sin
Their son, Cain struggled with envy
Joseph’s brothers
Envy is destructive
It is a failure to rejoice in another’s blessings
To want what another has
To feel hard done by
Prov 27:4
Pilate knew the Jews had handed Jesus Christ over for crucifixion out of envy
When the world throws of self-restraint – many sins abound …
… including envy
Rom 1 – speaks clearly about our society
Do you think that envy is not a problem for you?
How do you feel when someone you know is given an achievement and you are overlooked?
Are you glad for them or are you resentful?
Quote from Jonathan Edwards
Do you feel you need to keep up with the Jones?
Are you dissatisfied with what you have and want what they have?
Envy can occur in the church
Rivalry leads to division
Example of King Saul
David received the acclaim of the people
Saul became bitter and twisted
God’s presence had already left Saul due to disobedience
Saul begins to ‘eye’ David
He tried to spear David
Prov 14:30
Example of Leah and Rachel
Example of Haman
Example of Aaron and Miriam
Example of King Darius’ chief men against Daniel
To love God is the opposite of envy
1 Cor 3:3
How the love of God overcomes envy
God’s love fills our hearts and changes our lives
It humbles us
Jesus will forgive our sins if we confess them to Him and ask Him to be our Lord
We are given wonderful promises in the Bible – examples
The worlds view of happiness – all false pretenses
It is only the love of God that satisfies the soul
Example of Paul’s accolades considered as rubbish
Would you not want to rejoice with others when they are blessed
The Greek word envy – can be used in a positive or negative sense
2 Cor 11:12
Do we burn with envy or zeal for God?
Examples
Do we burn for good things?
The best gifts – 1 Cor 12:31
Do not envy
Love does not consider itself but others
Jesus never envied – because He was selfless
He came to serve
We are called to walk in His footsteps
Love is patient and kind, it bears much
Jesus had to bear much with others
Love is content
Jesus was content
Paul learnt to be content with a lot and with a little
Example of Asaph – Ps 73:2-3, 25-26
Come into the presence of God
Ask to be filled with the love of God afresh – it does not envy
God’s love will overcome
Example of David