The evil of ENVY James Shepherd
Series: WISDOM FOR LIFE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 11th September 2016
Passage: Proverbs 23:1-35
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Two weekends ago was the most exciting weekend of my life thus far.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 Kay and I woke up one morning on Saturday morning
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 and we went to a rock at Freshwater Beach
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 and I proposed to her and she said yes.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 It was a wonderful Saturday morning.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:16 Thank you.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 Thank you.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 Now, I didn't necessarily put a lot of effort into the proposal itself.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 It was pretty easy.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 I had it all planned out pretty much the night before.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 But something I did put a lot of effort into
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 and did a lot of work for
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 was trying to find the right engagement ring for Katie.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 You know, I wanted her to have the best ring I could afford.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 And so I did so much research into the different rings,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 into the different diamonds you could have,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 into the colour, the clarity, the cut of the diamond
00:00:47 --> 00:00:48 and how each worked in its favour
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 to produce a very wonderful sparkle and such.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 And so I worked out how I could get the best diamond
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 for the best value for my wonderful-to-be fiance.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 But something I noticed myself doing on the day itself
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 after I proposed, after I gave Katie the ring,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 was when we went back to celebrate with friends and family,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 I began to compare the ring I had given her
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 to the rings that my other friends had given
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 to their fiancés and their wives.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 And I began to get a little bit envious
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 as I looked at some of their rings
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 and saw that perhaps their ring, their diamond,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 was perhaps a little bit bigger than what I gave Katie.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 Katie, it was a bit shinier, a bit brighter,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 seemed to be a better cut than what I had given Katie.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 And it made me really envious in the moment.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 I got really bitter and resentful to my own friends
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 in that moment because they had given something
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 far better than what I had given Katie.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:42 It made me think,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 I should have gone out and gone all out,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 got the biggest rock I could have afforded,
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 got the best diamond I could have gotten.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 In that moment, envy had consumed me.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 Now, Katie and I are very happy with the ring
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 and we're very excited to get married,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 so just to clarify that.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 But the temptation of envy can be all too easy
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 to fall into straight away.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 It was only for a moment that I felt that temptation.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 But in that moment, envy pretty much had consumed me.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 It's so easy and it's so dangerous.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 It's something that we are all at risk of every single day
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 at every single moment of our life,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 which is why this evening we are continuing our series
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 looking at wisdom in the book of Proverbs
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 and particularly looking at the evil of envy.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 And so to begin, I want to unpack why evil is,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 so why envy is so evil.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 And there are two conditions that envy thrives on
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 in our life in this world.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 Firstly, we envy those we identify with.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 And secondly, we envy these people
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 in the area we value the most.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:53 Now, these effects can have minor or major consequences
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 for us in our life.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 So, for example, I struggled with envy
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 when I saw the engagement rings my mates had bought
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 for their girlfriends and fiancés,
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 so people I identified with.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 And it made me bitter in the moment
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 because it made me feel less or less of a person
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 because they had outdone me and such.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 Now, that's a minor consequence, right?
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 It was a moment and then it passed and I got over it.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 However, in the Bible, there are instances
00:03:20 --> 00:03:24 where someone's envy has had major consequences
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 for themselves and for other people in their life.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 We already know the story of Joseph
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 and his brothers that Steve mentioned last week.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 Joseph's brothers envied the attention
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 that he received from their father
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 and the gifts he would get, such as his wonderful coat.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 For them, the coat symbolized and expressed
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 Jacob's favoritism towards his son, Joseph,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 that he was held in elevated status before them,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 a status that the rest of the brothers really wanted
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 and valued themselves.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:02 So their envy turned into bitterness, resentment and hate,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 which expressed itself through a plot
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 trying to kill Joseph, their own brother.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 Or take Cain and Abel, for example,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 brothers who, as far as we knew,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 had no tension between each other
00:04:16 --> 00:04:20 until God chose to accept Abel's gift over Cain's gift.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 And again, Cain's envy sprouted out of nowhere,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 but it sprouted because from God's action to him
00:04:28 --> 00:04:33 symbolized that God had favored him over Abel.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 And whereas Cain, he wanted and valued God's favor.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:43 And so he envied his own brother for being favored over him.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 And whilst he had the opportunity to not give in to his envy,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 that God had warned him,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 don't give in to your sin,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 eventually in the end,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 envy had consumed him so much that he did give in.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 He turned bitter, hateful,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 he resented the fact that his younger brother
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 was favored over him.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 And so he ended up killing him.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 And he tried to cover it up.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 Funny enough, just the same way
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 Joseph's brothers tried to cover it up as well.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Whether minor or major,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:21 envy targets the internal qualities of another person,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 and it makes you play the comparison game.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 And these internal qualities are generally symbolized externally.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 So for example,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:34 Joseph's coat symbolized the favoritism he received from his father.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 His brothers didn't want Joseph's coat per se.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:45 They wanted the favoritism from his father that the coat had symbolized.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 They compared themselves to Joseph and saw they didn't match up to him,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 which led them to envy him.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 This is the comparison game envy makes us play.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 Envy takes everything that we have in our life
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 and it uses it to make us play this game of comparison,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:07 where we look down on people who are not as good as us,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 who don't have enough as us,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 or we look up at people in bitterness and resentment for what they have
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 and therefore what that says about us.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 When we see someone wearing a nicer suit,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 who has a better job than us,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 who has a better body or nicer clothes than us,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 who drives a nicer car,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 owns a bigger house than us,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 it's easy to let these things,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 to let envy use these things
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 to make us feel bitter and resentful towards them.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:42 For they have something that says something about them
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 and when you compare yourself to them,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 it says something about yourself
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 and when we seem not to measure up to them.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 The envious person is consumed
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 by how they stack up against other people
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 and the consequences,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 whether seemingly minor or obviously major,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 are damaging either way.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 See, from these examples,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 I think we can see two main things
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 in the way that envy distorts and corrupts our humanity.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 Firstly, it distorts and compromises our character,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 leading us to do things we may have never have done,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 to bring other people down to our level
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 or worse, below our level,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 like in the example of Cain and Abel.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 And secondly, it distorts
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 and attempts to destroy our relationships
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 as it pits us against those we identify with
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 and share similar values,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 like the way I struggled with the engagement rings.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 In the moment,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 my bitterness and my resentment
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 was towards my own friends.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 And this, for me,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 is why envy is most evil
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 and particularly dangerous in a church context.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 Indeed,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 if any of us here harbour any envy towards each other
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 here in this place,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 we are indeed under serious threat.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 Our unity,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 our fellowship,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 is seriously at threat.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 Envy is truly evil.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 And what makes it so dangerous
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 and even more evil
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 is that it works insidiously.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 That is,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 it works without us even knowing it.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 And it always works
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 with evil intent behind it
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 to make us fall into sin
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 and to destroy our relationships.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 And this is why Proverbs is very,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 very strong.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 If you look at 23 again,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 verse 1 and 2,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 when you sit to die of a ruler,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 note well what is before you
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 and put a knife to your throat
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 if you are given to gluttony.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 The sage urges his son or his pupil here
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 to restrain himself from envy
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 as if there were a sword hanging over his head
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 or a knife being put to his throat,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 threatening him that if he gives in to envy,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 he will cut his neck
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 or cut off his head.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:03 That's how strong the Proverbs are
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 about giving in to envy.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 It's serious,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 not only because it distorts
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 our relationships with each other
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 and the things we value,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 but it also distorts
00:09:12 --> 00:09:16 and corrupts our relationship with God.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 As the psalmist notes in Psalm 73,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 verse 1,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 Surely God is good to Israel,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 to those who are pure in heart.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 But as for me,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 my feet had almost slipped.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 I had nearly lost my foothold,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 for I envied the arrogant
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 The psalmist knew that God was good,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 but because he envied the wicked
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 who were prospering when he wasn't,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 see there he's playing the comparison game already,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 he nearly forsook what was right and true.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 He was tempted to think that God was unjust,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 unjust to allow him to suffer.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:58 His envy began to distort his relationship with God,
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 how he saw who God was
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 and what his true qualities were.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 When he compared himself to the wicked
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 and saw that he wasn't as blessed as they were,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 he nearly lost God altogether.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:17 Envy is so evil and so dangerous
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 because it calls us to question God's goodness
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 on the basis of our own experience,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 to compare that of the wicked
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 and decide upon that experience
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 whether he is good enough or not.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:36 It's a dangerous, dangerous thing to do,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 to question the Lord of all creation,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 to question his own goodness
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 as his creatures.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 So how does one not fall into temptation of envy?
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 How does one heed the sage
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 in Proverbs 23, 17 that says,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 let not your heart envy sinners,
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 The biggest problem with envy
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 is that it can distort anything we value
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 into a standard by which we play the comparison game.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 Whether it's your job, your wealth,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 your car, your wife, your husband,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 your boyfriend or your girlfriend,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 your phone, your skills,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 or your gadgets and possessions,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 your passions and your values,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 envy can take all these things,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 anything in your life,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 and distort it into a standard
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 by which you play the comparison game,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 by which you play the game,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 which you compare yourself with other people
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 and determine where do you sit.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 Are you up here or are you down here?
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 How high on the ladder are you?
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Up there or down there?
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 Therefore, thinking through this logically,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 the only way to deal with envy
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 is to value something
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 that can't be distorted.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 To value something that envy can't distort
00:11:56 --> 00:12:00 and use to cause us to look down on people
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 and to judge them and to think we're better,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 or to look up to people in bitterness and resentment
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 for what that says about us.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 But does such a thing in this world exist?
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 And what on earth could it be?
00:12:14 --> 00:12:18 When David realized his sin
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 of committing adultery against Bathsheba
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 and his sin of murdering Uriah,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 he came before God in repentance,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 in deep, sorrowful repentance.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 And he penned the psalm, Psalm 51.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 And in this psalm,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 he acknowledges the root cause of his sin,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 why he gave in to this sin
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 and envy.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 In verse 12, he says this,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 Restore to me the joy of salvation
00:12:46 --> 00:12:50 and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 The reason why David fell into this sin quickly
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 was because his greed had blinded him
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 to the joy he already had in God,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 the one who saves,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 the one who gives life.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:07 David's joy had turned from being in God's salvation
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 to being whatever his eye had seen
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 that pleased him.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 Even if what he had seen was not his.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:18 But now David realizes that his covetous pursuits
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 led him into shame and sin.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 And he asked God,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Please, God,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 restore to me the joy of salvation.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 Restore to me what it is to be known by you
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 and to know you.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:36 Having his eyes fixed on the wonderful salvation
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 that comes from God
00:13:38 --> 00:13:42 is how David reorients his heart
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 to not give sin a foothold.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 And closely related to coveting,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 envy as well has the same ability
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 to blind us to the wonderful joy
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 in salvation.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 And it's only when we fix our eyes
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 and remember the wonderful salvation
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 that comes from God in Christ
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 that envy is left powerless
00:14:05 --> 00:14:09 to corrupt and to distort.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 Why is that?
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 Because the salvation
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 that comes from God
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 through the gospel
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 is the great equalizer
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 of all men.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 The salvation
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 that comes through the gospel
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 is the great equalizer
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 among all men.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Whilst envy
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 perpetuates on playing the comparison game,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 playing the game that says
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 you've got to work out
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 where you are
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 on the status level.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 The gospel says no.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 Salvation
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 through the gospel
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 is the great equalizer
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 of all men.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 There is no place
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 in the gospel
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 to look down at anyone
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 for we are all sinful.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 We are all
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 in the same predicament.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 There is no place
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 in the gospel
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 for envy of any kind
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 for no matter
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 how prosperous
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 you might be,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 no matter how well off
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 you might be,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 no matter how high up
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 the ladder
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 you might think you are,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 we are all called.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 to repent of our sin
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and to turn back
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 to Christ in faith.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 And such opportunity,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 no matter how high you are,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 no matter how low you are,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 is given to all people
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 freely,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 without distinction,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 the grace of God
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 in Christ.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 Galatians 3.26
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 makes this really clear for us.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 So in Christ Jesus
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 you are all children
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 of God through faith.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 For all of you
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 were baptized into Christ
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and have clothed yourselves
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 with Christ,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 there is neither Jew
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 nor Gentile,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 neither slave nor free,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 nor is there male
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 and female,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 for you are all one
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 in Christ Jesus.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 If you belong to Christ
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 then you are Abraham's
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 seed
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 and heirs
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 according to the promise.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 The playing field
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 has been leveled
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 completely.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 There is no room
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 for the comparison game
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 at all
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 to be played.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 You can't compare
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 each other's salvation
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 at all.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 And Romans 3.23
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 further clarifies this.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 For all have sinned
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 and fall short
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 of the glory of God
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 and all are justified
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 freely by his grace
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 to the redemption
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 that came
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 by Christ Jesus.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Salvation
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 in God
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 is the great
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 equalizer
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 to which envy
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 is rendered
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 powerless against.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 Envy can't use
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 this salvation
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 as a means
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 of distorting
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 your relationship
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 because everyone
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 who knows
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 this salvation,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 who trusts
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 in Jesus
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 that comes
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 to know Christ
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 knows they are sinful
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 and deserving
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 of death
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 and along with
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 everyone else
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 and they know
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 they are only made
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 right with God
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 through faith
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 alone
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 along with
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 everyone else.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 Envy
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 thrives in this world
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 because it's built
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 on a social hierarchy.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 we are constantly
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 told to climb
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 some sort of ladder
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 whether it's to build
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 our wealth
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 our skills
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 our possessions
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 our friends
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 our fame
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 we are told to climb
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 this endless ladder
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 and the only way
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 to measure
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 our success
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 to see where
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 we are going
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 in this ladder
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 is to play
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 the comparison game
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 and therefore
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 to let envy
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 take its hold
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 on us
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 to influence
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 us
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 but the gospel
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 comes in
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and decimates
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 that entirely
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and declares
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 that all people
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 no matter who
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 you are
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 have access
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 through faith
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 and repentance
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to the wonderful
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 salvation
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that is on offer.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 Indeed
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 we don't climb
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 any ladder
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 anymore
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 the world
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 wants you to
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 try and keep
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 climbing this ladder
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 to get higher
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 and higher
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 and higher
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 but it's endless
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 but on the contrary
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 in Ephesians 1
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 we're reminded
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 that for those
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 who trust in Jesus
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 you are already
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 ascended to the very top
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 you are seated
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 with Christ
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 in the heavenly realms
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 and in him
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 being at the very top
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 in him
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 we enjoy peace
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 with God
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 satisfaction
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 and contentment
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 we enjoy unity
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 and fellowship
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 together
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 we enjoy
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 our significance
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 and worth
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 being found
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in him
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 he is supremely
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 valuable
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 whose blood
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 whose blood
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 is more precious
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 than gold
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 nothing can compare
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 to him
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 having him
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 and therefore
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 envy cannot
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 take its stand
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 against him
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 it is rendered
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 powerless
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 so when the thing
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 that captures
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 your attention
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the most
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 the thing that
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 stirs the affection
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 of your heart
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 the most
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 is the salvation
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 that comes
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 through Jesus
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 envy will lose
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 its grip
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 on your life
00:18:45 --> 00:18:49 because not only
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 do you have
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 the best thing
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 but you have
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 the very thing
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 that levels
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 the playing field
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 the great equaliser
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 of all men
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 but this is easier
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 said than done
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 although we have
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 this knowledge
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 of salvation
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 we often fail
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 to keep
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 our eyes
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 fixated
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 on Jesus
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 we are so easily
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 distracted by
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 what surrounds us
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 by the world's message
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 to sell the good
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 life to us
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 telling us
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 what we ought
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 to value
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 the most
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 in our life
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and because
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 we are sinful
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 and foolish
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 we buy into it
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and take our
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 eyes off of
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 Jesus
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 every now and then
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 even David
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 prays in the same
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 verse
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 grant me
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 a willing spirit
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 to sustain me
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 and the proverb
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 says as well
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 let not your heart
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 envy sinners
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 but continue
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 in the fear
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 of the Lord
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 all the day
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 there is still
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 a need
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 to persevere
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 in our struggle
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 against envy
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 it's a daily
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 fight
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 a daily
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 battle
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 one which we
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 need to let
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Christ
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 through the power
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 of the Holy Spirit
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 help us
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 in the fight
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 but instead of
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 just leaving it
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 there
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 we are in a series
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 on wisdom
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 and I want to
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 provide I think
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 what's best practice
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 from my research
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 in the last week
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 or so
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 so on the screen
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 it's going to come up
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 a summary of where
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 we've just gone
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 and then where
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 we're going to next
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 which I'll read
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 for us as well
00:20:13 --> 00:20:16 to fight envy
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 we need to realise
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 that envy affects
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 the way we interact
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 with everything
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 that is of this world
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 drawing us to see
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 everything we value
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 as a means
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 for comparison
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and therefore
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 we need to
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 counter envy
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 by choosing
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 to value that
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 which is not
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 of this world
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 the gospel
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 of salvation
00:20:35 --> 00:20:38 the way we do this
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 is by training
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 and cultivating
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 the heart
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 to value
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 and love
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 the gospel
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 above all else
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 through daily
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and weekly
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 practice
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 reorienting
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 our hearts
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 from loving
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 and valuing
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 the things
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 of this world
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 to loving
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 and valuing
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 the gospel
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 we so often
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 struggle to fight
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 against envy
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 and all sin
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 for that matter
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 because we think
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 transformation
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 has to do
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 with this thing
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 up here
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 thinking
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 deciding
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 that as long
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 as we can
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 mentally assent
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to the truth
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 we'll be able
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to change
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 our habits
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 but that's not
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 how we work
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 as human beings
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 don't hear me
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 say that thinking
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 is not important
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 it is
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 that's not entirely
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 the way we work
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 we're not just
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 thinkers
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 we don't change
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 our habits
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 by simply
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 knowing the truth
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 about something
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 and interesting enough
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the world doesn't
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 work at that either
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 the world doesn't
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 convince us
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 through mental
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 assent
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 to live the way
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 it wants
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 the world
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 convinces us
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 through shaping
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 our hearts
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 to love
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 what it has to say
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 is the good life
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 through repetitive
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 exposure
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 pulling our
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 heart strings
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 the world
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 is able to
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 shape
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 what it is
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 we ought to
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 value
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the most
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 it's a
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 it's a thing
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 that happens
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 without us
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 even knowing
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 at times
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 for example
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 the tech giant
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Apple is a great
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 example of this
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 they don't
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 they're a company
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 that advertises
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 their products
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 not through
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 trying to get you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to mentally
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 just agree with them
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 about how good
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 their products are
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 but they're a company
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 that advertises
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 their products
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 by repetitively
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 drawing upon
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 your desires
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 and wants
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 constantly exposing
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 their product
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 to you
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 all the time
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 and this
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 repetitive
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 exposure
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 eventually
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 takes
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 its effects
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 in eventually
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 forming
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 our hearts
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 to love
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 their products
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 to want
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 them
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and desire
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 them
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to which I
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 have fallen
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 completely
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 for
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 to put it
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 simply
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 we are not
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 simply thinkers
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 first
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 we are lovers
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 first
00:22:53 --> 00:22:57 we are lovers
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 first
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 and the reason
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 why we struggle
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 with changing
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 our habits
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and therefore
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 removing envy
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 is because we
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 approach the fight
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 as thinkers
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 and not as lovers
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 therefore we must
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 approach this fight
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 not through mental
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 assent
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 but as lovers
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 but how we do
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 that
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 I have already
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 kind of given
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 you a clue
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the only way
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 in which we can
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 grow in our love
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 for something
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 is by repetitively
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 being exposed
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 to it
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 and allowing it
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 to train
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 and cultivate
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 our heart
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 to be something
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 we love
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 you see
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 you grow
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 in love
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 for your wife
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 for your husband
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 your girlfriend
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 or boyfriend
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 for your family
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and for your friends
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 or for anything
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 for that matter
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 when you choose
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to actively
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 expose yourself
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 daily to it
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 when you choose
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 to engage
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 with it
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 when you continue
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 to practice
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 relationship
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 with that person
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 you are
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 in regard
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 you might not
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 put it this way
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 but you are
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 training yourself
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to love this person
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 you're training
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 your heart
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 to love them
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 by daily
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 choosing to do so
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 and then growing
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 in that love
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 in the same way
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 of the gospel
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 the way in which
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 we train our hearts
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 to love the salvation
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 that comes from Jesus
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 is to repetitively
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 expose ourselves
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 to the message
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 of the gospel
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 to practice it daily
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 and allow for our hearts
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to be trained
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 and to grow
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 in the love
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 of the gospel
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 and to do this
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 in a counter
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 formative way
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 that is
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 as we grow
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 in our love
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 for the gospel
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 to then allow
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the gospel itself
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 to root out
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 any place
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 in our heart
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 which might
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 give in to envy
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 so that when we
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 are tempted
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 to envy
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 our hearts
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 natural reaction
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 ought to be
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 to turn to the gospel
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 and let the gospel
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 shape the way
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 we proceed
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 from there
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 to not give in
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 to envy
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 and the question
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 is now
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 where do we begin
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 with this
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 the practice
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 I've suggested
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 is something
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 that should be used
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 in fighting
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 all sin
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 in general
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 but what about envy
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 in particular
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 when we
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 where in our daily
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 repetitive practice
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 of the gospel
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 do we begin
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 in regards
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 to envy
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 well I believe
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 in general use
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 but I think
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 particularly for envy
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 Psalm 73
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 is one that provides
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 a helpful pattern
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 that helps us
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 to acknowledge
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 our own struggle
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 with envy
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 and gives us
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 a voice
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 to tell God
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 our struggle
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 but then helpfully
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 provides a corrective
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 for us
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 that will lead us
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 away from envy
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 and finding joy
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 in God's salvation
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 the first three verses
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 the psalmist acknowledges
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 he struggled with envy
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 and says he almost
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 fell away from God
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 because of it
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 and then he provides
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 why in verses 4 to 15
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 explain that the wicked
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 were prospering
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 but they were mocking God
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 at the same time
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 the psalmist though
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 who was obedient
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 and righteous
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 he was suffering
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 so whilst they were
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 prospering
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 he was suffering
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 he was struggling
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 to put the two
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 or two together
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 eventually
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 till we get to
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 verse 16
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 he admits
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 it's too much
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 for him to handle
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 he can't understand
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 why he is suffering
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 in this way
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 and why they are prospering
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 so what does he do
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 what's his response
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 he goes to God
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 in verse 17
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 to the temple
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 he brings this
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 confusing state
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 before God
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 and gives it to him
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 and being in the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 presence of God
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 he realizes
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 the true fate
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 of the wicked
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 in verses 18
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 to 22
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 he realizes
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 what's going to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 happen to those
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 even if they're
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 prospering
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 what does
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 eventually happen
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 to the wicked
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 and he talks
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 about that
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 in those next
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 few verses
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 and then in verse 23
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 again
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 after being with God
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 he realizes
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 his own state
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 and what's going
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 to happen to him
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 he says in verse 23
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 nevertheless
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 I am continually
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 with you
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 you hold
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 my right hand
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 you guide me
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 with your counsel
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 and afterward
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 you receive me
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 to glory
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 whom have I
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 in heaven
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 but you
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 and there is
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 nothing on earth
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 I desire
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 besides you
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 my flesh
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 and my heart
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 may fail
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 but God
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 is the strength
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 in my heart
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 and my portion
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 forever
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 for behold
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 those who are
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 far from you
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 shall perish
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 you put an end
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 to everyone
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 who is unfaithful
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 to you
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 but for me
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 it is good
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 to be near God
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 I have made
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 the Lord God
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 my refuge
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 that I may tell
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 of your works
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 do you see
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 how the psalmist
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 recounts
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 his emotions
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 and thoughts
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 as he goes along
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 he doesn't just
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 simply tell us
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 don't envy
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 trust God
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 he recounts
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 his own journey
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 and progression
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 towards understanding
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 and seeing the truth
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 and it's through
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 that journey
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 he was able
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 to write
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 the reality
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 that God
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 is his joy
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and strength
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 that he need
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 not to envy
00:28:07 --> 00:28:09 because he enjoyed
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 God's presence
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 and God's salvation
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 and so since
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 we have this psalm
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 written down
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 for us
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 when we are tempted
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 to feel envious
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 when we are tempted
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 to play
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 the comparison game
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 we can turn
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 to this psalm
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 to help us
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 fight envy
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29 to use
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 as a guide
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 for the way
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 we should struggle
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 with it
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 you notice that
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 the psalmist
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 doesn't just conclude
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 okay I'm going to
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 trust God now
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 he actually voices
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 his opinion to God
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 he tells God
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 I'm struggling
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 the wicked are
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 prospering
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 and me the righteous
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 I'm suffering
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 what's going on
00:28:49 --> 00:28:52 but then he provides
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 that helpful
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 corrective
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 in verse 17
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 he turns to God
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 that's the difference
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 between him
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 and us sometimes
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 do you turn
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 to God
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 after voicing
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 your opinion
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 to him
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 after telling him
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 you're struggling
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 do you turn
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 to God
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 to try and
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 understand
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 what's going on
00:29:09 --> 00:29:12 when we
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 repeatedly
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 practice
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 this helpful
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 pattern
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 in psalm 73
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 but also
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 help we practice
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 on a broader
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 level
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 the gospel
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 through the reading
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 the speaking
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 aloud
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 as well
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 as in our mind
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 and the singing
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 of scripture
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 and the psalms
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 when we allow it
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 to sink
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 into our hearts
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 that's
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 when our joy
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 will begin
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 to turn
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 to be fixated
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 on the salvation
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 of God
00:29:37 --> 00:29:40 and then
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 only then
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 we'll be able
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 to counter
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 the message
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 of this world
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 that is to
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 climb the social
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 ladder
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 to play the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 comparison game
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 that envy
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 wants us to play
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 envy
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 is truly
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 evil
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 and like
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 all sin
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 it requires
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 us to fight
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 daily
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 but brothers
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 and sisters
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 when we
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 respond to
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 envy by
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 encountering
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 the gospel
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 each and
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 every day
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 envy
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 we rendered
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 powerless
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 when we work
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 through the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 scriptures
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and the psalms
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 in our response
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 practicing
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 and training
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 our hearts
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 to love
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 the gospel
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 to see it
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 as the thing
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 we value
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 the most
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 envy
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 will be
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 stopped
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 in its
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 tracks
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 and the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 gospel
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 the great
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 equalizer
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 will take
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 its seed
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 and flourish
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 and grow
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 in our hearts
00:30:30 --> 00:30:33 giving us
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 the freedom
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 to enjoy
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 to worship
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 God
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 without fear
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 of measuring
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 up to each
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 other
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 but then also
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 giving us
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 the power
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 to love
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 each other
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 to serve
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 each other
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 to be with
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 each other
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 and not fear
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 that we don't
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 measure up
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 to each other
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 because we
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 all here
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 enjoy the
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 wonderful
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 salvation
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 of God
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 as in
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 Christ Jesus
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 let me pray
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 for us
00:30:56 --> 00:30:59 heavenly father
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 we thank you
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 so much
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 that we
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 enjoy peace
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 with you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 through your
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 son
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 we thank you
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 that through
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 your word
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 you've given
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 us life
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 and we pray
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 father
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 that you
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 would help
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 us to
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 always have
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 our eyes
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 fixated
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 on your
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 son
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 for him
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 to be
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 the thing
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 we value
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 the most
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 in our
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 life
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 for the
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 salvation
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 that comes
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 through him
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 to be the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 thing
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 that gives
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 us confidence
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 in this
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 world
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 would we
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 not envy
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 each other
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 or envy
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 sinners
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 but father
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 would we
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 know that
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 we enjoy
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 the great
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 salvation
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 that comes
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 from you
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 that puts
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 all of us
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 on the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 leveling
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 playing field
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 that stirs
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 all of us
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 to love
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 each other
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 and to serve
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 each other
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 help us
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 father
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 to go out
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 now
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 into the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 world
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 to show
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 forth your
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 love
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 and your
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 light
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 to those
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 around us
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 to so many
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 people who
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 are trying
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 to play
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 this comparison
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 game
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 thinking it's
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 going to
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 fulfill them
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 thinking it's
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 going to
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 help them
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 progress
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 but father
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 only leaves
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 them feeling
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 bitter
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 and resentful
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 and hated
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 hateful
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 father we
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 offer them
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 the peace
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 that comes
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 from you
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 only through
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 the salvation
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 that comes
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 also from
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 you
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 we pray
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 this in
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 your son's
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 name
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 amen