Jealousy / Envy: A Study in the Scriptures

JEALOUSY

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ ... For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
1 Corinthians 3:1, 3

I. Jealousy is a sign of immaturity and carnality.

1 Corinthians 3:1, 3

A. It is in Paul's list of the works of the flesh, along with adultery, idolatry,
witchcraft, murder, etc.

Galatians 5:19-21

B. "... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Galatians 5:21

C. It should have no place among God's people.

Galatians 5:24, 26
1 Peter 2:1

D. The problem originates in the heart of man.

James 3:14

E. It is "evil."

James 3:16

II. The effects of bitter envying" can be disastrous to the spiritual
well-being of God's people.

A. Envy is the cause of many divisions and leads to discord among
the brethren. It also results in confusion and turmoil.

      Acts 13:45; 14:45; 17:5
      James 3:16
      2 Corinthians 12:20

B. It disrupts the bond of peace and leads to much contention and fighting.

James 4:1-2

C. Besides spiritually affecting one's personal walk (Psalms 73:2-3),
having a heart of envy can lead to actually physically hurting others as well.

1. Example: Cain and Abel.

Genesis 4:5-7 with 1 John 3:12

envy ---> anger (vv.5-6) ---> murder (v.8)

2. Example: Saul and David.

1 Samuel 18:7-9, etc.

envy and hatred (w. 9, 29) ---> attempted murder (chapters
18:11, 25; 19:10; 20:31; 23:14)

3. Example: Joseph's brothers.

Genesis 37:4-5, 11, etc.

envy (v. 11) ---> hatred (w. 4-5) ---> ill-speaking (v. 4) ---> conspiracy
to kill (v. 18) ---> kidnapping (w. 26-28) ---> lying (v. 32)

4. Example: parable of the laborers in the field.

Matthew 20:1-16

envy (w. 10, 12) ---> murmuring (v. 11)

III. A person can be jealous of just about anything someone else has
that he does not.

A. Possessions.

      Genesis 26:14
      Psalms 73:3
      Luke 15:29

B. Another's gift (Genesis 37:9, 11) or position in God (1 John 3:12
with Genesis 4:5-7).

C. Popularity or attention.

1. David and Saul.

1 Samuel 18:7-9

2. Joseph and his brethren.

Genesis 37:34, 23

3. The prodigal son.

Luke 15: 29-30

4. The Jews, as a reaction to the acceptance of Paul's message.

Acts 13:44-45

D. Another's income or pay.

Matthew 20:10-13, etc.

E. The word of the Lord.

Genesis 37:11

IV. What is the answer or solution for dealing with envy in one's heart?

A. Seek God, to see how foolish it is.

Psalms 73:3-17, 22

B. Recognize the attitude for what it is: a sign of immaturity
(1 Corinthians 3:3) and a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21),
which must be crucified (Galatians 5:24).

C. "Walk in the Spirit." (This is a command; it a choice to obey.)

Galatians 5:25-26

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