Master Your Emotions: Of Envy and Jealousy

Jealousy and Envy often times prevailed over friendship and Contentment

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Psalm 73:1, 12-28 --Asaph expressed his struggle

Deuteronomy 6:1-3

1) If we truly delight in the Lord We need to recognize our struggle - know our enemy.

If we don't recognize our enemy we will be facing sure defeat, like not recognizing the struggle, will make us surely down

ENVY
* Envy is resenting the advantage of another, with a desire to possess the same advantage
* Envy is coveting what another has
* The Latin word for "envy" is invidere, which means means to look at with enmity.

JEALOUSY
* Jealousy is resenting another's rivalry or unfaithfulness, with a desire to guard or maintain what one possesses.
* Jealousy is possessiveness.
* The Greek word for "jealousy" is zeloo, which means "zealous or burning with jealousy."

Envy is ALWAYS WRONG
Scripture never portrays envy in a positive light.
God is never depicted as an envious God.
Matthew 27:15-18

Jealousy IS NOT ALWAYS WRONG
It is natural and normal for feelings of jealousy to surface when a meaningful covenant relationship is threatened by unfaithfulness.
Numbers 5:25-31

Why is God called a JEALOUS God?
Jehovah God initiated a special covenant relationship with the Israelites. Because of His Love for Israel, God felt jealous pain when they threatened to destroy the covenant relationship and became disloyal.
Exodus 34:14
   ¹⁴ Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The difference between Envy & Jealousy
ENVY
- burning desire to have
- coveting what another has
- empty hands that crave to be filled
- usually involves two people

JEALOUSY
- burning desire to keep
- possessive of what one has
- full hands that fear being emptied
- usually involves three people

Galatians 5:19-21
   ¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

How we know we are Envious?
- we feel boastful
- we feel internal pain towards the success of others
- we became competitive

How we know we are Jealous?
- we became judgemental
- not allowing others to outside relationship
- we became anxious
- overly possessive
- unable to trust God, distrustful leading to insecurity

This enemy also disguises itself:
Here are disguises for masking envy or jealousy:
- Making an issue of unfairness of life
- Pretending apathy or indifference to people or situations
- Feeling of self-pity
- Avoiding problems or people that could produce envy or provoke jealousy
- Idolizing certain people by placing them on an unreachable pedestal
- Offering false praise and congratulations
- Dropping unnecessary, negative information about another
- Projecting jealousy or envy onto another
- Developing a superior attitude toward another
- Becoming a martyr

2) Run to the Lord after recognizing our struggles.

Psalm 75:4-7 --> Realize the Sovereignty of God

3) Resist Comparing ourselves from others