In today’s episode, the guys talk about envy and jealousy, as well as how to overcome them.\u00a0 Both of these sins, which relate to the sin of covetousness discussed in a previous episode, lead from what may feel like a relatively non-threatening start to all manner of mischief and further sin.\u00a0 In order to deal with them and the bad fruit they lead to, we have to start at the root.\u00a0 The root of envy and jealousy is dissatisfaction with God and our lot in Him.\u00a0 We fail to believe that whatever is not within God\u2019s will for us is not something we need (or should ultimately even want).\u00a0 We embrace \u201cdiscontented longing for someone else\u2019s advantages\u201d (envy) or \u201cunpleasant suspicion or apprehension of rivalship\u201d (jealousy).\u00a0 Saul offers an apt picture of jealousy as it grows and turns into evil action – in his case, attempted murder of David.\u00a0 And envy, the guys explain, is opposition to the prosperity or happiness of others.\u00a0 It is unhappy self-justification, and its antidote is finding satisfaction in the justification offered by God.<\/p>\n
After all, in Christ, we have all things!\u00a0 What else is there for us to strive for?\u00a0 We live before God, who sees our every thought and deed, and He is to us a sure hope.\u00a0 Any other hope will surely let us down.\u00a0 Turning to envy for justification and satisfaction ultimately makes us discontent with the good of others, haters of our neighbors, and our own tormentors.\u00a0 Using envy, as people so often do, to motivate others and even to shape the behavior of our children, will damage us and cause these other people to stumble.\u00a0 Allowing any jealousy but a righteous jealousy to dwell in us will, time and again, lead us to evil action.\u00a0 But as believers, we need not behave as \u201cmere men\u201d!\u00a0 We must be rooted in love, which doesn\u2019t envy, and cry out to God to help us daily to live as those filled with His love.<\/p>\n
Thanks for listening! If you\u2019ve been helped by this podcast, we\u2019d be grateful if you\u2019d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As born-again Christians, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God! But what does that mean? What is the Kingdom, and how are we to live in it while we are still in this world?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":281384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","tags":[],"post_series":[],"podcast_series":[11425],"speaker":[11188,11189,11190,11187],"podcast_topics":[11435],"class_list":["post-339066","episode","type-episode","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","podcast_series-season-2","speaker-emeal-zwayne","speaker-mark-spence","speaker-oscar-navarro","speaker-ray-comfort","podcast_topics-kingdom-of-god","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n