A Picture Of Jealousy- The Older Son Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Last week we saw a picture of a selfish son. The younger son had some real serious character problems, problems that he was not willing to acknowledge until he almost permanently ruined his life.

• As you read the story of the Prodigal Son, it is so easy to spend all our time examining the faults of the younger son. By the way if you did not catch it, the younger son represented all who have strayed away from God.

• It was meant to show us how foolish it is do stray and that we cannot stray too far to still receive the blessing of forgiveness, which we will examine next week.

• As I was saying, it is easy to look at the Prodigal and think how foolish and selfish he was. We wonder why it took so much bad stuff to happen to him to wake him up.

• Well, when the younger son left, something else bad was happening.

• The departure of the younger son started to bring to the surface another serious issue within the home, this time it is the eldest son, the eldest son who looked innocent and pure had some issues of his own and it took his young foolish brother leaving for his issue to rear its ugly head.

• The eldest son had a problem of a jealous heart. As I examined the eldest son, I really struggled with what his problem really was, was he just self-righteous, or was he just a jealous person from which the self-righteousness sprung forth?

• A jealous heart can wreak a lot of destruction in a person life as well as those around them.

• For our purposes, we are going to examine the older son from the aspect of his jealousy.

• Before we jump into the text, let us begin by seeing…

• SLIDE #2

SERMON

I. Jealousy defined.

• Jealousy is defined as: excessive concern for one’s own self, and what one fancies or desires should be his.

• Feeling resentment against someone because of that person’s rivalry, success, or advantages

• It involves resentment of the good fortune of others. It is an inordinate self-centeredness or possessiveness.

• According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, jealousy is used in three senses in Scripture;

• (1) as intolerance of rivalry or unfaithfulness;

• (2) as a disposition suspicious of rivalry or unfaithfulness; and

• (3) as hostility towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage. Sense 3 approximates envy.

• God is described several times as being a jealous God. He is jealousy for His honor, His holy name, along with wanting His status being preserved.

• When speaking of the jealousy of God, we are to understand this language to be employed to illustrate rather than represent the emotions of the divine mind.

• The same causes operating upon the human mind would produce what we call anger, jealousy, repentance, grief, etc.; therefore, when these emotions are ascribed to the mind of God, this language is used because such emotions can be represented to us by no other.

• The same causes operating upon the human mind would produce what we call anger, jealousy, repentance, grief, etc.; therefore, when these emotions are ascribed to the mind of God, this language is used because such emotions can be represented to us by no other.

• We see the attitude of jealousy throughout the bible. We see it both the good and bad. On the good side…

• Phineas is described as jealous with God’s jealousy (Num. 25:11, 13, sometimes translated zealous for God). Elijah is similarly characterized as jealous (or zealous) for God (1 Kings 19:10, 14).

• In the New Testament Paul speaks of his divine jealousy for the Christians at Corinth (2 Cor. 11:2).

• On the negative side…

• We saw the brothers of Joseph in Genesis 37. The brothers were very jealous of Joseph’s relationship with his father to the point they almost killed him.

• Saul tried to kill David several times in 1 Samuel 18 and following.

• There is a time when jealousy can be used an in favorable context, that is when it is a concern of God’s honor or glory.

• Well, in the case of the eldest son, it is not positive.

• Let’s pick it up at Luke 15:25-28

• SLIDE #3

• Luke 15:25-28(ESV) 25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,