Driven By Envy

  

I Kings 21.1-19

You would think that envy would be the problem of the poor. Actually I found that to be partly true. I have found more contentment with the poor of the world than I have with the rich. Ahaz's behavior here would substantiate what I have found. That doesn't mean you can't be poor and miserable because of envy.

We are looking at a man driven by envy.

As king of Israel he had the best of everything. He lived in a palace. He had gardeners to tend his gardens.

He wanted Naboth's Vineyard for a vegetable garden. 

We see this morning how envy drove this man, Ahaz.

Sin grabs the heart and makes us do what it wants. Sin is a work of the devil, an act of the sinful nature. It drives. The Spirit leads, what comes out is fruit. Fruit is produced by abiding in the vine, not striving.

1. The Problem of Envy

The Jezreel Valley

Israel's bread basket In between Nazareth and Megiddo.

Beautiful earth, well watered Valley, the Valley of Armageddon.

News today.

Easy to grow, good weather year round.

Look what envy does.

* It makes a person miserable.

Envy in the Greek comes from the word that means to be destroyed, to perish

in an ethical sense, to corrupt, deprave

Living in a state of wanting what others have drives people to painful thoughts.

Envy is torture to the soul. It is a discontent and uneasiness in a person's heart. There is no peace in the envious heart, only discontent.

Psalm 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. 

*It takes away the ability to enjoy the blessings of God.

If I want what someone else has I cannot enjoy what I have. I focus on what they have. Envy displaces the LORD from my life. I end up being unthankful and upset with God and others because I cannot get what I want.

James 4:1-2 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 

Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.  Envy actually causes physical problems. 

Ecclesiastes 4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 

*It drives a person to horrible ends. 

In Ahab's case death. I have seen it split families and friends.

Envy is a green eyed monster.

*It is a work of the flesh ending in destruction.

In its root form it means to be destroyed.

Job 5:2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. 

Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

2. The Cause of Envy

Looking at others

even the wicked

Proverbs 24:1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company...

Not being thankful for what we have.

Wanting what someone else has... can be tangible or intangible (ex/ relationship)

James 3:13-16 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil/ Envy its sister brings about every evil practice along with confusion.

3.. The Cure for Envy.

Death!

 Put the Green Eyes monster to death.

1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 

rid= depart, flee, separate where one is destroyed.

to self

to looking (Fix your eyes upon Jesus)

Learn the secret of contentment Philippians 4.12

Paul saw God' hand in everything he went through

*Pray 4.6-7

*Be thankful 4.6b

*Rely on God' strength 4.13

*Know He will meet your needs (Envy is often about what I want rather than what God gives me. 4.19

Remember Paul wrote this from a  prison. We see him, Joseph and Daniel at peace in prison. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress from a  prison. Look at the things which came out of situations no one would envy because these men were content1

If you are battling envy today destroy it before it destroys you. It eats a person up. If not be on your guard against it. Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 

It is a flaming arrow of the evil one and we are more than conquerors through Christ1