Jealousy and Envy
“Jealousy” – is an unfriendly feeling excited by
another’s possession of good. It desires
to have the same for itself, and is resentfully suspicious of a rival’s
influence. When used in relationship to
God, it always has a good meaning – that being, an intense interest for the
welfare of another or for His sensitive regard for the true faith of His
people.
Ex.
20:3-6; 34:14; Psa. 78:58 What
does God get jealous (intensely desirous for
their best welfare) about?
Do
you see God as a Person Who knows and wants what will make you the most
fulfilled person that you can be? Why?
And do you understand that because He is God that only He can give this fulfillment to you, and that it only comes through worshipping Him alone? Why?
1 Cor. 10:19-22 What
did attendance at the heathen feasts and participation in their religious rites
by these Christians provoke God to?
[Those who in
pagan countries join in the religious rites of the heathen are just as guilty
of idolatry, and are just as certainly brought into fellowship with demons, as
the nominal Christians at Corinth, who although they knew that an idol was
nothing, and that there is but one God, yet frequented the heathen feasts. The
same principle also applies to the compliance of Christians in the religious
observances of Catholicism. Whatever their intention may be, they worship the
host/wafer if they bow down to it with the crowd who intend to adore it. By the
force of the act we become one with those in whose worship we join. A person cannot
eat of the table of demons – meat and wine blessed in the name of the idol and
thereby consecrated to it – without being brought under their power and
influence; nor can we eat of the Lord’s table, without being renewed or judged
by Him, 1 Cor. 11:28, 29. But you can’t have fellowship – community of
interest, friendly intercourse, or congeniality of mind – with demons and
Christ at the same time – 2 Cor. 6:14, 15.].
Do you ever provoke God to jealousy by idolizing/worshipping anything other than God (e.g., money, career, possessions, sports, education, people, music, computers, religious objects or people, cars, home, weight lifting, martial arts, etc.)?
Why?
If so, what should you do (1 Jn. 1:9; Rev. 2:4, 5; Matt.
2 Cor.
11:2-4 What kind of jealousy did Paul have
toward these Christians?
Why was it godly?
Have you ever had godly jealousy for another Christian because he/she was drifting away from his/her simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ and pursuing another gospel, spirit, or Jesus (e.g., humanism, liberalism, neo-orthodoxy, intellectualism, social-gospel, charismaticism, etc.)?
If so, what did you specifically do, and why?
1 Cor.
3:2, 3 Why did Paul say that these Christians were fleshly/carnal (acting from their sinful nature) rather
than spiritual?
Do
you ever act and live like a fleshly (non-Christian)
person by being jealous of roommates, friends, or spiritual leaders?
Why are you jealous of them/him/her, since God made each of us uniquely the way we are for a special reason to best glorify Him?
What can you do to change your perspective, and live
spiritually (Eph.
Jas.
3:13-16 What form of wisdom that is earthly,
natural, and demonic should a person not be arrogant about?
[Jealousy
is considered “wisdom” by the world because it views jealousy as something
good.].
Are
you guilty of this form of thinking/perspective? Why?
Where
is there disorder and every evil thing?
Is
this what happens when you have jealous and selfish ambition in your heart? Why?
Why
do you think that selfish ambition goes hand-in-hand with jealousy?
Rom.
What’s
the solution for dealing with jealousy – vs. 14?
[“Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” means
choosing as an act of your will to be like Christ in terms of His acquirable
character traits, like love, for example.].
Are
you choosing as an act of your will to be Christ-like in character (e.g., loving, instead of sinful jealousy)?
Gal.
Over
what do you get jealous when you are jealous of others, and why?
Do
you know how to deal with jealousy and have victory over it? If so, how?
Acts
What
did they do to the apostles?
Have
religious leaders ever been jealous of you? If so, why?
What
did they do, and how did you respond to what they did?
Acts
As
a result, what did these Jews do?
Are
you ever jealous of the popularity of certain teachers, leaders, or disciplers? Why?
If
so, what should you do about it (1 Jn.
1:9; Eph.
“Envy” – is
the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage
or prosperity of others. It desires to deprive another of what he/she has. It
is ill-will, malice, spite, and hates the possessor of whose qualities it
covets. The distinction between jealousy and envy is that jealousy desires to
have the same sort of thing, whereas envy desires to deprive another of what
he/she has and often strives to degrade that person.
Prov.
24:1 Who shouldn’t we be envious of?
Are
you ever envious of the wealth, material possessions, or prestige of those who
acquire these things through sinful means?
Why?
How
are we to live instead –
[“The fear of the Lord” – is to hate evil/sin,
Prov. 8:13, which includes envy.].
Is
this what you are doing, and why?
Gal.
Do you ever wish or desire to deprive/envy another Christian of what he/she has (i.e., their spiritual qualities, talents, possessions, or popularity)? Why?
1 Cor. 13:4 Jealousy/envy is not a part of what quality?
If we are commanded to love one another, and envy is not a part of love, then what are we doing when we have envy/jealousy toward someone?
What have you learned as a result of
doing this Bible study on jealousy and envy?
What changes do you plan on
making in your life, and when will you start?