ENVY

ENVY

Intro:
Envy (phthonos) is the “feeling of displeasure produced by the witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.” “Desire to deprive another of what he has, “jealousy,” desire to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.” (Vines’, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 204)

I. ENVY HARMS
A. The spread of the gospel – 1 Pet. 2:1; Rom. 13:13
1. Innocent preachers used their precious time to defend from false
accusations of envious preachers.
2. Preachers should “Preach the word..” “while it is day” 2 Tim. 4:2; John 9:4
3. Paul and Barnabas met the envious Jews (Acts 13:43-45)
B. Growth of preachers, Christians, and local church
1. Many preachers try their best, through sleepless nights, to prepare and produce outlines to help other preachers (2 Pet. 3:18)
2. Envious preachers do not want them to use and worse encourage others not to use the outlines
3. They know nothing but proud and envy (1 Tim. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:1-2)
C. Envy qualifies one for spiritual death
1. Envy is included in the works of the flesh (Rom. 1:29:32)
2. Those who practice are worthy of death.
D. As it hinder one to inherit God’s kingdom
1. Those who practice forfeit to be in the Lord’s kigdom (Gal. 5:19-21)
2. The Scripture does not say that if we commit all these sins but one is enough to be excluded in the kingdom of God.

E. As it is a sign of carnality
1. Envy and strife manifestations of walking as men (1 Cor. 3:3)
2. Envy is earthly not heavenly (James 3:14,15)
3. Envy is death (Rom. 8:6-7)
4.

II. BAITS THE DEVIL USES TO ENCOURAGE ENVY

A. Abilities –
1. Each has the ability to lead singing, write tracts, sermon outlines, edit magazines, translate and/or interpret
2. Paul planted and Apollos watered (1 Cor. 3:6)
3. But God gave the increase
4. A preachers who is envious discourage others to use the sermon outlines translated by the other preachers.
B. Financial Support
1. The fact remains that the Philippine work is rapidly growing because of financial support outside the country, especially the United States, donated to preachers.
2. This is a blessing to the Filipinos.
3. But the Devil, whose work is to hinder the truth, through using envious preachers.
4. Envious preachers usually agree among themselves to fabricate and make false accusations against innocent and faithful preachers.
5. They sometimes succeed because number, but many times they fail.

III. SCRIPTURAL REMEDIES

A. Remember the parable of the talents – (Matt. 25:15)
1. One should thank the Lord for the ability of each one (1 Pet. 4:10)
2. Preachers should do what he can do in the Lord (1 Cor. 12:14-21)
5. Every preacher has the duty and obligation (Eph. 4:15-16)
B. Financial support is a blessing from God.
1. Preachers have the right to be supported (Phil 4:15-18; 2 Cor. 11:8; 1 Cor. 7,9,14; 1 Tim. 5:18)
2. But it should not be the motive for preaching.
3. One should willing to sacrifice (Rom. 14:8)
4. The love of money is root of all evil (I Tim. 6:10)
5. Paul engaged in making tents (Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 4:12)
6. Paul learned to be content (Phil. 4:11-13)
CONCLUSION
God has given fair warning to all, and preachers should not forget “the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou shall be cut off.” (Romans 11:22) May every preacher learn to love all gospel preachers. “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

-Men Mark A. Tumandan

[Adapted from, “ENVY,” CIPRIANO CARPENTERO, The Sword and Shield Volume XII Number 1 , Jan-Feb-March 2016]

Excellent article that was written by late Ninong Brother  Cipriano Carpentero Sr.  I developed it into sermon outline. Needed lesson through the years.