The passage comes from Psalm 73:1-3; 12-28:
Psalm 73:1-3
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph. 1 Surely God is good to Israel,to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:12-28
New International Version (NIV)
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
The title of the message was: "Overcoming the green eyed monster by delighting in the Lord"
This was in reference to Shakespeare's character in one of his stories which refers to an envious monster. Who in the Bible can be compared to Asaph who is found in Psalms.
As you can even see, it is one of the 7 deadly sins and is colored green which really says a lot about this attitude.
DO NOT VIEW LIFE IN A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
Paul's warning is given in Galatians 5:19-21
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.
It is important that we define both terms.
Envy: burning desire to have; coveting what another has.
Envy is always wrong
Jealousy: burning desire to keep.
Jealousy is not always wrong - natural or normal feeling to surface when meaningful covenant relationships are threatened by unfaithfulness.
so we see the difference of these two terms which we mistakenly use interchangeably, let us check ourselves with these two attitudes.
The preacher gave out a list of deeds that are caused by our flesh, it is incomplete though: boastful, critical, resentful, begrudging, competitive, greedy, demanding, performance based acceptance, not allowing outside relationship, threat of losing relationships, etc...
I believe our society is filled with these deeds that causes broken relationships and our work attitude is affected because of these things. It all starts with envy and jealousy which is an attitude that shouldn't be in our hearts.
So what should we do? Run to the Lord!
Asaph saw:
Future of sinner, and himself. (v. 17b - 20)
Foolishness of self (v. 21-22)
We have been guilty! It says in Psalm 75:4-7
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[a]
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’”
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
To end, we see that we are to delight in the Lord if we want to remove this attitude of envy and jealousy in our workplace, in our homes, or in any institution that we are in.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Asaph was confused about the prosperity of sinners:
- Peace of the sinner
- Pleasure of the sinner
- Pride of the sinner
DO NOT VIEW LIFE IN A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
Paul's warning is given in Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:19-21
New International Version (NIV)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.
It is important that we define both terms.
Envy: burning desire to have; coveting what another has.
Envy is always wrong
Jealousy: burning desire to keep.
Jealousy is not always wrong - natural or normal feeling to surface when meaningful covenant relationships are threatened by unfaithfulness.
2 Corinthians 11:2-3
New International Version (NIV)
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Exodus 34:14
New International Version (NIV)
14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
The preacher gave out a list of deeds that are caused by our flesh, it is incomplete though: boastful, critical, resentful, begrudging, competitive, greedy, demanding, performance based acceptance, not allowing outside relationship, threat of losing relationships, etc...
I believe our society is filled with these deeds that causes broken relationships and our work attitude is affected because of these things. It all starts with envy and jealousy which is an attitude that shouldn't be in our hearts.
James 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
So what should we do? Run to the Lord!
Asaph saw:
Future of sinner, and himself. (v. 17b - 20)
Foolishness of self (v. 21-22)
We have been guilty! It says in Psalm 75:4-7
Psalm 75:4-7
New International Version (NIV)
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[a]
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
New International Version (NIV)
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
To end, we see that we are to delight in the Lord if we want to remove this attitude of envy and jealousy in our workplace, in our homes, or in any institution that we are in.
Psalm 37:4-7
New International Version (NIV)
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
- Rest in God's Love
- Resist comparing ourselves with others
- Maintain healthy competition
God Bless everyone!
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