Let's continue our teaching on LITTLE FOXES.
Song of Songs 2:15
Catch us the foxes,
The little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes.
You could scroll back to the last two weeks to refresh yourself on the past teachings.
We've dealt with the foxes of SINFUL INDULGENCE and UNFORGIVENESS.
Just like foxes ruined vineyards, these symbolic fixes also ruin our lives if we allow them access.
Going forward, let's see another "fox:" ENVY
Along with envy is jealousy. The dictionary often uses them interchangeably yet they are not the same.
God is a Jealous God, yet He is not envious, because, God is love, and love is not envious (1Cor 13:4)
According to W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary, ENVY is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.
The Greek word translated envy is PHTHONOS.
Whereas JEALOUSY (Greek: Zêlos) is that fear of losing something you have or love, envy is the desire to have what they have (even if it means dispossessing them of it).
Again, according to Vine, The distinction between envy and jealousy lies in this, that envy desires to deprive another of what he has, jealousy desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.
Jealousy is not always completely evil.
The same word jealous is often used for zealous.
It's natural for a man/woman to have a feeling of jealousy if s/he feels threatened by another person, or suspects that someone else is stealing the spouse's affection and attention.
So, for the sake of this study, let's focus more on envy, which is a spiritual virus we need to deal with. Thank God this one is not caused by corruption (apologies to our EFCC Chair).
Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.
Envy will eat one up.
Envy will make you destroy things that are for your good.
Do you realize that Jesus was given up to be crucified by the Jews because of envy?
Mat 27:17 — Mat 27:18
Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
Mark 15:8 — Mark 15:10
Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
Act 13:44 — Act 13:45
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
What is your reaction when you see your mates or colleagues seemingly progressing ahead of you?
They tried to instil envy in John the Baptist but they didn't succeed.
Jn 3:25 — Jn 3:30
Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ,’ but, I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
Envy is never a fruit of the spirit.
Gal 5:19 — Gal 5:21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Jam 3:14 — Jam 3:16
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
For you to grow spiritually, you must overcome envy. If it tries to rear its ugly head, you must intentionally kill it.
1Pe 2:1 — 1Pe 2:2
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,
Any manifestation of envy reveals your spiritual state, that you are still carnal and are a baby in Christ.
1Cor 3:1 — 1Cor 3:4
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
One of the ways to overcome envy is to celebrate the one you have a feeling of envy towards.
Another way is to have contentment - appreciating God for where you are right now, knowing that it is not the end of the road for you.
Learn also to be secure in who God has made you (Imagine Usain Bolt envying Anthony Joshua, or Ronaldo envying Michael Phelps, or Djokovic envying
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Do you know people have worked themselves to death all because of envy and unhealthy rivalry?
Ecclesiastes 4:4 (MSG)
Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NIV)
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Don't you see it manifesting in some of our unions?
When ASUU gets a raise, SSANU/NASU will go on strike.
When NMA get a raise, JOHESU will embark on an industrial action.
Even in church, when one is appointed a leader or is recognized, you hear tongues wagging, "It's because of this or that..."
Even in the Choir. Let someone take the lead, another will grumble because she feels she has a finer voice.
Even in Ministry. You started the same year. He is running three services and has three branches and you are struggling with one, then you begin to look for all ways to denigrate the other person: "They are not preaching the hard Gospel."
Someone is promoted in your office and you go, "Why won't they promote her when she knows how to lick people's booths? Me I mind my business here."
So why don't you keep on minding your business and allow the person you feel is a lobbyist or loyalist to eat the fruit of their labour?
Envy is a work of the flesh. It would eat you up and destroy you. Destroy it before it destroys you.
"For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one."
(Job 5:2, NKJV)
Envy will cause you to betray and destroy people.
Mark 15:9-10
But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him
Genesis 26:12-16
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
May the Lord deliver us from this little fox, in Jesus name.
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