Envy & Hope

Sunday, 15 2002

 

  1. Introduction
    1. 3rd sermon in a series of eight that Dan and I are preaching on Sin and Virtue
    2. Last week we discussed the first two attributes in these parallel lists - Pride and Faith

                                                               i.      In fact we discussed them for about 40 minutes !

1.      Even then only a brief introduction to genuine human dignity and faith and the odious perversion of self-pride and vainglory. 

2.      This week too will be brief…in scope…hopefully a bit more brief than last

    1. It will not always be the case, but this time the next two attributes really originate from the last – Envy and Hope

                                                               i.      From pride and inordinate self-value creeps Envy

                                                             ii.      From informed and solid Faith springs Hope

  1. Prayer
  2. Critical Terms
    1. When there is a fine line, one of the most important things you do in a discussion is to define your terms.
    2. While these are not complex terms. I have to admit in preparing for this sermon I learned some important distinctions
    3. Envy

                                                              i.      Envy is not jealously

1.      Jealousy is not necessarily bad… although it most often is. For example:

a.      God is jealous for our allegiance

                                                                                                                                      i.      Exodus 20:5

b.      I may be jealous of a sisters spiritual discipline and lifestyle witness

                                                                                                                                      i.      If I hate her for it, and in fact desire to see her lose it, even if it does not benefit me…that is ENVY

c.       When I explained this to Jennifer she said it like if she notices a woman, who also recently had a baby, who is back to her pre-birth weight.
If her jealousy of her hard work drives Jennifer to admire her and seek to accomplish the same…that is one thing.
If she hates her and hopes she gets fat…GREEN ENVY.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Even though there is no demonstrable benefit to Jen

2.      Envy = a consuming jealousy or resent of another’s advantage, coupled with a desire to posses the same advantage and/or see the other deprived of advantage.

a.      Unlike jealousy Envy is universally bad.

b.      Cain's pride led to the Envy that killed Abel

c.       Saul’s envy of David drove him mad

d.      Envy drove the Harvest Queen in Texas to strangle a cheerleader to death with a leather belt which left a small town choking with grief

e.      It’s the same self-sickness that secretly revels in another’s loss.

                                                                                                                                      i.      The fallen Christian

                                                                                                                                    ii.      The friend that fails at test, in their marriage. Looses a promotion.

1.      What in the world?!  What would make us happy that a friend failed? We benefit from success and lose in deficit.

                                                                                                                                  iii.      TV thrives on our enjoyment of seeing another broken human

1.      COPS has been on for 14 years!

a.      Are we really just pleased to see the law enforcement system work or are we there to revel in human depravity?

    1. Hope

                                                               i.      Hope on the other hand is the opposite of envy, but clearly virtue over sin

                                                            ii.      It is to expect with confidence.  To desire with assurance of fulfillment.

1.      In other words, the value of a promise is dependant on the one who makes the promise, and is proportionately associated with their ability to deliver.

a.       If I promise to keep it brief this morning, you probably do not doubt my character, but experience may make you doubt my ability to deliver

b.      If I promise is going to rain or that you will not get into an accident on your way home...those are promises I have no power to keep.
They are meaningless promises.

2.      Jesus Christ is the dependable promise maker

a.      He has proven his ability to deliver on His promise

                                                                                                                                      i.      Resurrection=Prolepsis – a promise with proof of delivery

1.      If I promise you are going to rise from the dead, and then I raise a man from the dead, and then I myself am resurrected.  That is a pretty solid promise.

  1. So What?
    1. The Scriptures Brigid read this morning reveal the answer

                                                              i.      Proverbs 23:17 & Romans 15:8-13

                                                            ii.      The place of a Christian is not envy of the sinner/world rather we are to have joy in hope

    1. What of World Envy?

                                                              i.      We could discuss:

1.      Possessions

a.      For most there is little difference. We exercise little discipline in this area. Hey…isn’t intentional poverty just for Catholic monks and the like?

2.      Status and power

a.      Worthwhile, but you know it

3.      I am more intrigued by Esteem-Envy

    1. We have Esteem-Envy

                                                              i.      The truth is we want to be respected for our beliefs.

                                                            ii.      Why we expect this?

1.      Matthew 10:16-40

2.      I Corinthians 1 & 2

                                                          iii.      You don’t have to watch TV, or listen to much talk-radio, take to many college courses or read much popular literature to discover that the common assumption is that if you are a Christian that actually believes in miracles and in the resurrection of Jesus. Worse, if you believe that Jesus is THE SINGLE and only means of salvation. You are likely not educated and you are unquestionably underexposed to other ideas.  Probably STUPID.

                                                          iv.      In many cases you are not just dumb and safe; you are in fact evil, close-minded and dangerous. The very worst of humanity. Haters and exclusivists that seek hurt and manipulate others for your own nefarious desire and greed.
Charlatans, Nazis and Abusers.

                                                             v.      I admit that when I hear it one the radio, I get mad. When I read it in the paper I am incensed. How dare they!  I am an educated person. I fit in. I am acceptable.
I ought to be esteemed for my choices. You people do not understand.

1.      It is perfectly natural to want to be accepted by our culture

2.      Alas this is not our calling…

                                                           vi.      I fear it will only get worse

1.      It only took the media 10 years to make us hate the smoker.

                                                          vii.      It will become increasingly difficult to not desire the ease with which our “philosophical open” neighbor fits into his culture

                                                        viii.      Worse than to desire TO ENVY our neighbor

1.      To hate him & to desire his ruin

a.       To secretly enjoy his loss of home, love and prestige

2.      To take excessive joy in the notion of his impending judgment

a.       Don North and his Osama Bin Laden experiment

3.      Interesting, since our call is love of the enemy

a.       Matthew 5:43-45

b.      This is the age of grace not the age of judgment

                                                                                                                                       i.      The day of judgment will come and all judgment will belong to the Father

c.       We must release our hatred, BUT expect the hatred of your enemy

                                                                                                                                       i.      Tough place to be. This Christianity stuff is hard

  1. Sure Hope
    1. We need not wallow in self-pity over lost esteem for ours is the True and Sure Hope
    2. Jesus – is our very Promise

                                                               i.      I Timothy 1:1

                                                             ii.      Where Faith is past and present, hope includes the future

    1. Hope develops in us:

                                                               i.      Salvation with power for living and Fellowship

1.      I Corinthians 12 & 13

                                                             ii.      Joyful confidence in God’s provision

1.      Romans 8:28-37

                                                            iii.      Patience in tribulation

1.      Romans 5:3

                                                           iv.      Actual righteousness

1.      Galatians 5:5

                                                             v.      Personal Resurrection

1.      I Corinthians 15

                                                           vi.      Completed Righteousness

1.      Philippians 1:6

                                                          vii.      The Kingdom of Heaven

1.      Acts 2:14-26

  1. What Then?
    1. I do want us to choose today to surrender our American right to obscene materialism
    2. I do want us to not seek worldly status
    3. Most of all I want us to choose today to be Ok with being thought a fool by the world, and not only do I want us to not be jealous of their cultural accommodation, but I want us to love them and desire their salvation even as they hate you for it.  For this is the lesson of Christ.
    4. We will not envy our neighbor, but rather we will live in the hope of the Kingdom promised by Jesus who is able to deliver! AMEN.