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Group Questions 1.What is envy & jealousy? In what kinds of areas do people struggle with these things? What kinds of things trigger the temptation to envy & jealousy in you? 2.If God is sovereign over the abilities and blessings He’s give us, how should this truth influence our tendencies toward envy and sinful jealousy? 3.Bridges writes, “Closely allied with envy and jealousy is the spirit of competitiveness – the urge to always win or be the top person in whatever our field of endeavor is.” What’s the difference between doing our best and being driven by envy or jealousy?

Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Romans 1:28-29 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. hey were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips…

Envy The Feeling of resentment, sadness, or anger because another person has something or another person is something that you want for yourself 1.We Tend to Envy those who are in the same social and economic status as us. 2.We tend to Envy in others the areas we value most

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones

James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth…

James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

1 Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another

CS Lewis Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better- looking than others.

3 Thoughts on Envy 1.Envy Flows Out of Pride 2.Envy Exposes our Deepest Desires 3.Envy Takes Action

Jealousy Intolerance of Rivalry.

1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.

Psalm 75:7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.

Psalm 75:7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.

Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'?

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

2 Related Sins 1.Spirit of COMPETITIVENESS 2.CONTROLLING Personality

Competitiveness The urge to win or be the top person…at someone else’s expense

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth

Controlling Sin of seeking to control others to our advantage or to get what we want.

Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ