The Envy TrapA 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 God’s 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 weren’t 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 didn’t!!Why did you mess up with me? If I were God, I would have made me more like that person!” (But…note….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 (God’s Master piece) (Judgment Day- Why weren’t 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 people’s 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 doesn’t judge you for your talents you don’t have or the opportinities you did’nt 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) Don’t get tempted to compare- Say “I am going to go down that path”

(2) Celebrate God’s 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 God’s 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 you’ve 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 don’t 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 God’s glory

(4) Trust God when life seems unfair – Mathew 20

Envy-Symptom Doubting God: Disease

6I cannot fulfill God’s 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 wouldn’t

even exist if it weren’t for God’s grace. The next breath of air I take is a gift of God

2) I don’t know what God knows and I can’t 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