The Envy Trap

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Pr. 14:30

I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Ecc. 4:4
Five Eternal purpose

1. Love your God with all your Heart (Worship)
2. Love your neighbor as your self. (Ministry)
3. Go and make disciples (Evangelism)
4. Baptize them into Gods family (fellowship)
5. Teach them to do all things to become like
Christ (discipleship)
Time-Place-plan and Style- Absolutely
Unique- No clones!!!!
Job 10:8, Psalms 139:13 God has distinctively shaped you for a life unlike any other
Attempting what you werent created for leads to frustration, fatigue and failure
God. You made a huge mistake
with me! You could have done
better. You could have made
me like that person, but you
didnt!!

Why did you mess up with me?
If I were God, I would have
made me more like that
person! (Butnote.how are
we created?... to become
what?? SPIRITUAL REBELLION
Romans 9:20, Exodus 20:17
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4-Harmful Effects of Envy
(1)Envy denies your uniqueness Eph 2:10 (Gods Master piece)
(Judgment Day- Why werent you more of what I intended you to be?

(2) Envy divides your attention Luke 9:62 (distraction-attention deficit)

(3) Envy misuses your time and energy Ecc 4:4, 4:8 (Hard work)
Pr 23:4

(4) Envy leads to other sins - Pr 6: 16-19 (one of the 7 deadly sins)
James 3:16
(Cain-Abel/Josephs brothers - Joseph/Saul - David/
Jesus-religious leaders : Mathew 27:18, Mark 15:10)
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4-Steps to eradicating Envy
If you learn to enjoy the other peoples victories, you will always have
something to be happy about
(1)Stop comparing yourself to others 2 Cor 10:12
pride-envy(negative reactions)
(a)God doesnt judge you for your talents you dont have or the opportinities
you didnt get- evaluation(faithfulness by how you live)
(b) God has not called you to be best in the world at anything.
(the best what you can be with your back ground, experience,
opportunities and abilities etc..)
(b) Dont get tempted to compare- Say I am going to go down that path
(2) Celebrate Gods goodness to others Rom 12 :15
Rejoice-Difficult, Weeping-Comfortable (hard to celebrate others success)
(a) We fear there is only a limited supply of Gods goodness and grace
(Eph 3:8)
Family members envy each other, neighbors any neighbors, preachers envy
preachers etc..
(b) Increase in happiness- secret(Learn to enjoy the successes and joys of
others)
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4-Steps to Eradicate Envy
Stop resenting my grace to others, be grateful for what youve got, and move
on with your life now!
(3) Be grateful for who you are and whatever you have -Ecc 5 10-11
(a) Happiness is choice
(b) Envy- Why them? Why do they get what I dont have?
Gratitude- Why me? Why do I get all that I have? 2 Sam 7:18
Ecc 6:9
(c) Desire is not wrong, if it comes from God and benefit others or for Gods
glory

(4) Trust God when life seems unfair Mathew 20

Envy-Symptom
Doubting God: Disease
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I cannot fulfill Gods purpose for me if I am envying others
THINK ABOUT!!!-IF YOU FEEL GOD IS UNFAIR
1) Everything I have is an undeserved gift from God. I wouldnt even exist if it
werent for Gods grace. The next breath of air I take is a gift of God

2) I dont know what God knows and I cant see what God sees, so I should trust
him.

3) Life on earth is unfair because of sin, not because of God. Our rebellion against
God has broken everything on the planet. This isn't heaven, where everything
works perfectly. Nothing works perfectly here.

4) God sent Jesus to save us from the judgment day when he will balance the
books, right all wrongs, and administer justice.

5) It was not fair Jesus to die in my place for my sins. But he did.
Thank You
AVOID ENVY