Defeating That Green-Eyed Monster
1 Samuel 18:1-16
INTRODUCTION:
Good morning! It is so good to be with you again today. If you have your Bible, turn with me to 1 Samuel chapter 18.
Many centuries ago, the church identified a group of sins (which plagued humanity) and they classified these as THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS! These included: Lust, Pride, Sloth, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed…And ENVY! One of the most subtle of these is ENVY!
Envy is an awful thing. It was ENVY, which sold Joseph into slavery, drove David into exile, threw Daniel in the den of lions, and (according to Matthew 27) — helped to place Jesus on the cross. Envy leads us to live a life of comparison and competition. It often causes us to experience seasons of discouragement and depression. And, rather than finding satisfaction where God has placed us, we become discontent and long for that which does not belong to us.
Today we will discover how to defeat envy through the power of the gospel.
So, what is ENVY? Envy is that feeling and emotion of unhappiness that we get when we hear of the success or good-fortune of others. It is present when we have a bad day because someone else has a good one. But ENVY also works in reverse. It shows up when we are happy because of somebody else’s pain. When we have a good day at the expense of someone’s bad day — that’s envy. When we rejoiceat the sorrows of another—that’s envy!
One of the clearest places to see this in scripture can be found in the story told in 1 Samuel chapter 18. So if you have your Bibles, turn there with me. 1 Samuel 18:1-16. Here Samuel tells us . . .
1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. 6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
1 Samuel 18:1-16 (NIV)
Envy is an awful foe. It is a monster that likes to lie just below the surface of our lives — haunting us with fear and insecurity and doubt and anger and wrath and many other harmful emotions. Envy is pervasive; it seeps into every area of our lives. We often lump envy and jealousy together, but there is an important distinction between the two.
Jealousy tends to be oriented toward that which we already possess (what I hold dear, like my my or children, or even possessions). However, envy tends to be oriented toward those things that someone else possesses.
Jealousy is the fear of losing what I have. While envy is the desire to take want belongs to another.
MESSAGE:
In the passage we’re looking at this morning, Saul is provoked to envy by the success of David and the celebration of the crowds. You have to remember — this passage immediately follows David’s huge victory over Goliath. But in the days that followed, he found even greater success in other battles against Israel’s foes. As he did, King Saul moved from fearing the Philistines to fearing David.
Which brings us to the heart of this message.
ENVY will always cause you to see life through the lens of fear rather than through the lens of faith. So, let me give you a few telling signs of ENVY, so you can be on identify this monster before it ever grows within you.
Here are 3 identifying features of ENVY.
First of all:
1. ENVY ALWAYS FOLLOWS THE SUCCESS OF ANOTHER.
In the same way darkness follows light, so also does in envy follow the success of others. And it’s usually the success of those closest to you (a friend, or colleague, or brother, or co-worker). When they experience success — ENVY stands tall.
That’s what happened in this story. In 1 Samuel 17, we’re introduced to a young kid from the pastures of Bethlehem. At one point, he shows up on the battlefield to bring his older brothers some cheese sticks to snack on…and he witnesses how his people are being shamed by the Philistines. So, he steps up to support his King and honor his God. As the story goes:
- David faces Goliath and represents the cause of his King.
- He defeats Goliath.
- He rescues his people from their foe.
Listen again to what Saul faced as his army returned from battle. In verses 6-7 it says,
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
1 Samuel 18:6-7 (NIV)
It was like a ticker-tape parade for the champions! They sang, and danced in the streets — celebrating their heroes. But their songs weren’t just celebrating Saul — they also celebrated David! And so, KING SAUL was forced to share the stage with this young shepherd boy. This was supposed to be Saul’s party, typically — in times of antiquity, when a battle was won, the credit went to the King, not the soldier. But here, Saul was being overshadowed by young David. And if that’s not enough, the people were far exaggerating David’s success — singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” And in that moment a change happened in their relationship. No longer did Saul see David as an asset, now he was an adversary.
Whenever ENVY appears, rivalry is always close behind. Rivalry leads us into a defensive posture — guided by fear and insecurity.
I want you to see how, when Saul first saw David’s success, he took him into his home (18:2), he placed him over the men of war (18:5), and he celebrated his success. But when ENVY began to grow within him, Saul became erratic and uncontrolled. Fear took over, insecurity rose up, and he sought to hurt David. Even so, God continued to bless David’s life. But this only made Saul more enraged and fearful (18:15).
But it was David’s success that exacerbated the stress and increased the envy within Saul. It wasn’t enough that he was the King, he also wanted to see David’s demise.
Maybe you’ve experienced it when someone you know or view as a colleague makes a great win in life. Maybe they get a promotion, or they get a new home or car. And when they have success — you wish it were you!
Its always the success (or perceived success) of another that leads us to despise and not support them. But Paul tells us that as Christians — our response to the success of another should be different. Unlike our culture, we should celebrate the success of others.
In Romans 12:15 we’re told:
15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another.”
Romans 12:15-16 (NIV)
So, Guard your heart — and don’t allow ENVY to lead you to despise the success of others.
- If they announce a new job — celebrate!
- If they announce an engagement — celebrate!
- If they announce a pregnancy — celebrate!
- If they announce a promotion at work — celebrate!
- If they buy a new home — celebrate (celebrate that you don’t have to pay for it)! AMEN!
Know the climate in which ENVY thrives,andguard your heart. Here’s another feature of ENVY:
2. ENVY ALWAYS WANTS WHAT IT CANNOT HAVE.
If you remember, James (the half-brother of Jesus) wanted us against envy when he said its the often the root of our quarrels and fights. He said, the drive or desire to have what doesn’t belong to us is like gas to a fire. It burns within us and leads us to do awful things to get what we want.
In James 4, he says,
1 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.”
James 4:1-2 (NIV)
Envy always leads you to want what doesn’t belong to you. Be it fame, or prestige, or position, or possessions. Whatever it is that you don’t have that someone else does — ENVY will lead you to fight, steal, slander, quarrel, or whatever else it takes to get it (or see to it that the other person loses it).
Because, ENVY isn’t satisfied until you are on top and no one excels higher than you.
Know the climate in which ENVY thrives. Here’s another feature of ENVY:
3. ENVY ALWAYS UNDERMINES RELATIONSHIPS.
We see the evidence of this in the relationship between King Saul and David.
2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
1 Samuel 18:2-3(NIV)
As 1 Samuel 18 begins, we witness the beauty of a relationship that could have proven to be beneficial to both the King and to David. Saul could have mentored young David, he could have helped David grow into the leader and man that God had called him to be. But because of Envy — their relation was undermined and the Kingdom of Israel suffered.
Envy usually hits us at the point of our closest relationships. But it never stops there — it continues to wreck everything in its path. Verse 9 says,
9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
1 Samuel 18:9 (NIV)
And he did — from that time on, until his death, King Saul viewed David with an eye of suspicion and hostility. Sometimes envy is subtle. But sometimes it’s not. And when it’s at its strongest — it can tear apart a friendship — but sometimes it reaches much further and affects a group or even a church.
Left unchecked — ENVY breeds grudges, and resentment, and spite and unnecessary rivalry. It hinders our ability to talk and communicate with others. As ENVY consumes us, it causes us to misunderstand things that are said, and to believe the worst — taking comments out of context.
Ultimately, it leads us to distrust friends and question their motives. It leads us to harbor a bitterness towards others that often reveals itself in our talk, an abruptness in our actions, back-biting, gossiping, slander. Envy can take you from being a close friend to being a bitter enemy. It can break up families, tear apart churches and ruin communities.
There’s a Greek Proverb that says:
As rust corrupts iron, so envy corrupts man.
There’s a fable told about . . . A great pheasant who was envious of another — because it thought that the other bird was more beautiful he. And so, one day the bird saw a sportsman in a field holding a great bow in his hands. And so the bird flew close and said to him, “I wish you would bring kill that pheasant out there in that field. He beautiful and majestic and would be a great bird to eat.” And the hunter agreed. But he said, I have no feather for my arrow. The jealous bird did the unthinkable, and pulled out one of his own (from his wing) and gave it to the hunter. The hunter affixed the feather to his arrow and shot at the great pheasant — but he missed. Seeing the problem, the bird pulled out another feather, and again a miss. This went on several times – until he had lost so many feathers that it left him unable to fly away. When the hunter noticed the predicate of the bird — he quickly turned in Him and took advantage of the situation. He killed the bird and went home happy.
Here’s the moral of the story — reject envy at all costs. Because, it may cost you everything!
SO HOW DO WE DEFEAT THE ENEMY OF ENVY?
Well, the first step to defeating envy — is to acknowledge its presence in your life, and . . .
1. REPENT OF ENVY!
Recognize that Envy is a problem. It’s not healthy. And, in fact — it’s sin! So, don’t stand for it. Don’t allow it to take residence in you. Evict it!
Envy is a violation of God’s Commandments. If you remember, the 10th commandment (found in Exodus 20:17) says,
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
Long ago God set out to free you and me of this monster — and He said, “Don’t do it.” Don’t let envy live in your house. Don’t let it get into your heart and mind.
But if it’s been there — rid yourself of it today. If you are guilty of envy, be honest with God about it, ask Him forgive you, and to give you the strength to defeat it ONCE AND FOR ALL! And He will.
Secondly, I’d say . . .
2. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18,
18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
The cure for jealousy and selfish ambition is really thanksgiving and humility. I encourage you to look at what you possess in this life. Rather than looking at what others have — acknowledge what God has given you.
I’ve heard it said, “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.”
So, count YOUR blessings. Thank Him for all He’s given you. Thank Him for who you are, and the gifts your been given, then life you’ve been given, and the place you are in this journey we call life. When you start counting your own blessings, your perspective on your life will change. It will help you to develop an ABUNDANCE MENTALITY rather than a POVERTY MENTALITY. And you will recognize that God has more than enough to meet your needs.
When you understand the laws of the Kingdom of God, you will see that there is no shortage for anyone who trusts in Him.
Look for the many things for which you can be grateful. Because, they’re all around you!
And finally . . .
3. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF WITH OTHERS!
You are a unique masterpiece created by God for a unique purpose. There has never been anyone just like you. You are a one-of-a-kind, and there’s no room for comparison.
Comparison is one of the roots of envy. So, if you quit comparing yourself to others, you’ll choke off the life to envy. Comparing seems to have become our favorite pastime.
We have a tendency to compare everything. We compare our height and weight, our skills and intelligence. We compare of our families, and our kids, and our jobs, and our talents, and our possessions, and our homes, and our money and our 401k’s — and even our lawns.
But God warns us to avoid the trap of comparison. In 2 Corinthians 10:12 He tells us:
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise”
2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
God says it’s foolish to compare. So stop it!
When you compare yourself to others, you’ll either become prideful or envious. And so, God says don’t compare! it’s foolish. You shouldn’t do it. Understand…you are unique. You are one of kind. You were created just the way God intended. So, be content with who you are. As the psalmist puts it, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made!” So, stop comparing!
When you get to Heaven, God is not going to say, “Why weren’t you more like this person or that person?” He’s not going to hold you accountable for the gifts and talent you don’t have. He’s not going to judge you on opportunities you weren’t given.
He is however going to ask you to give an account for the life you lived and what you did with what you were given. So, don’t focus on others — put your focus on being the best YOU you can be!
CLOSING:
Trust in Jesus. The secret to overcoming envy is to realize that everything you need can be found in Christ (your soul provider). So trust in Him to provide you with all you need…especially forgiveness and the peace that you crave.
And when you trust in Him — learn to be content with who he made you to be, and all that he places into your hands.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank you for making us just the way you intended. May we learn to be content with who we are as we also learn to run the race to which we’ve been called. May we reject the temptation to covet what others have or to allow envy to create enemies out of those in our lives. Teach us to trust you an To find our satisfaction in you. — In Jesus name, Amen!