Killer Giants or giant killers?
December 2, 2001 PM
"Killing the giant of jealosy"
1 Corinthians 3:3
The ancient Greeks told the story of a swift athlete who came in second.
He stood at the finish line, huffing and puffing as the crowd cheered --
Not for him, but for the winner.
The second-place finisher had to stand there while they brought the winner his crown and the other prizes.
He had to stand and listen to everyone else congratulate the winner.
He had to walk home hearing nothing but the name of the winner on the lips of everyone he saw.
The winner had a great statue erected in his honor - right in the center of town.
And everyday the second-place finisher had see it every time he went anywhere.
The envy and jealosy began to take charge of his mind -- and he could hardly accomplish anything day after day.
His thoughts were continually on being the loser -- not the winner.
Why wasn’t he the winner? Why had the other runner been only a split-second faster?
Soon the jealosy began to keep him up nights.
One night, unable to sleep, he slipped quietly to the town square where the statue of his opponent stood.
And he began to chip away at the stone foundation -- just a few chips each night.
But night after night he chiseled away at the foundation of that statue.
And every night that great statue got a little weaker.
Finally one night as the second-place runner was chiseling away --
The huge marble statue cracked, and then fell.
As it came down the massive stone statue fell on the second-place runner,
And its size and weight crushed him to death.
The second place runner -- killed by the image of the very man he despised so much.
It wasn’t the little chips of stone that were chiseled off each day that killed him,
It was the final weight of the jealosy of the image of the one he envied that got him.
It transformed the the soul of a proud champion into a broken, driven by jealosy, disaster.
That is the poison we call jealosy.
(1 Cor 3:3 NKJV) ..... For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
The word there envy has a translation of "heating up" --
But the greek word picture is to "boil within".
Even if we smile on the outside -- it is possible to be so jealous or so envious that we are boiling in or hearts.
When Paul wrote this verse to the Corinthian church he was dealing with church divisions.
Some were Paul supporters, some were Apollos supporters,
And one group was jealous of the other group.
Everytime one group made some headway or did something successful the other group bad mouthed them and tried to discredit them.
We watched part of the "I love Lucy" marathon the other night -- spiritual don’t you think?
And one show had a ladies club meeting at Lucy’s apartment.
And they elected officers for the club.
First election was for treasure -- and Lucy didn’t get it.
So she turns to Ethel and says - " wouldn’t have that job if you gave it to me -- that’s a horrible position"
And Ethel looked convinced and said "oh really?"
Next was the office of secretary -- and Lucy wasn’t elected to that one either,
So she turned to Ethel and said "what a thankless job that is, I wouldn’t want that one either"
And Ethel, still looking serious and convinced, said "oh really?’"
Next they elected vice-president, and Lucy didn’t get that one either.
So she turns to Ethel and said "simply a figure-head position, never does anything, I wouldn’t want that job no matter what"
And Ethel said "oh really?"
Last they elected president -- and Lucy didn’t get that one either --
But she created a rucus and got them to nominate her anyway --
But the point is -- that’s what jealosy is like.
We tear down those we envy, or we discredit the position or the place we really wanted and felt we deserved..
There are some subtle differences between envy and jealosy -- although even in scripture they are often used interchangeably.
Envy starts out benign and subtle -- It is the standard response from the have-nots when confronted with the haves.
It’s quiet and resentful.
It discreetly rejoices over someone else’s misfortune.
Jealosy however, tends to refer to having something -- but living in fear of losing it.
It is always seeking a new or imagined rival.
Jealosy is far more cruel and coarse than envy.
The Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.
But jealosy has things backwards -- it makes people rejoice over people who mourn,
And to mourn when someone else has reason to rejoice.
Envy and jealosy are the loneliest of giants -- because they isolate us from everyone and everything that is greater or has a potential to be greater than we are.
As you read through the scriptures there are stories and more sotries about the impact that envy and jealosy had on the lives and families of God’s people.
There is an interesting story in the book of Numbers.
It deals with Moses and Aaron, and the priesthood as established by God,
And a man named Korah.
This is kind of lengthy -- but what a powerful story -- let me read it from the Living Bible:
(Num 16:1 TLB) One day Korah (son of Izhar) conspired with Dathan, Abiram, and On, all three from the tribe of Reuben,
(Num 16:2 TLB) to incite a rebellion against Moses. Two hundred and fifty popular leaders, all members of the Assembly, were involved.
(Num 16:3 TLB) They went to Moses and Aaron and said, "We have had enough of your presumption; you are no better than anyone else; everyone in Israel has been chosen of the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you, and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people of the Lord?"
(Num 16:4 TLB) When Moses heard what they were saying he fell face downward to the ground.
(Num 16:5 TLB) Then he said to Korah and to those who were with him, "In the morning the Lord will show you who are his, and who is holy, and whom he has chosen as his priest.
(Num 16:6 TLB) Do this: Korah, and all those with you, take censers (Num 16:7 TLB) tomorrow and light them, and put incense upon them before the Lord,
and we will find out whom the Lord has chosen. You are the presumptuous ones".
(Num 16:8 TLB) Then Moses spoke again to Korah:
(Num 16:9 TLB) "Does it seem a small thing to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the people of Israel to be near to himself as you work in the Tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the people to minister to them?
(Num 16:10 TLB) Is it nothing to you that he has given this task to only you Levites? And now are you demanding the priesthood also?
(Num 16:11 TLB) That is what you are really after! That is why you are revolting against Jehovah.
And what has Aaron done, that you are dissatisfied with him?"
(Num 16:12 TLB) Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, but they refused to come.
(Num 16:13 TLB) "Is it a small thing," they mimicked, "that you brought us out of lovely Egypt to kill us here in this terrible wilderness, and that now you want to make yourself our king?
(Num 16:14 TLB) What’s more, you haven’t brought us into the wonderful country you promised, nor given us fields and vineyards. Whom are you trying to fool? We refuse to come."
(Num 16:16 TLB) And Moses said to Korah, "Come here tomorrow before the Lord with all your friends; Aaron will be here too.
(Num 16:17 TLB) Be sure to bring your censers with incense on them; a censer for each man, 250 in all; and Aaron will also be here with his."
(Num 16:18 TLB) So they did. They came with their censers and lit them and placed the incense on them, and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron.
(Num 16:19 TLB) Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire nation against Moses and Aaron, and they all assembled to watch. Then the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people,
(Num 16:23 TLB) And the Lord said to Moses, ... "tell the people to get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."
(Num 16:25 TLB) So Moses rushed over to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, followed closely by the 250 Israeli leaders.
(Num 16:26 TLB) "Quick!" he told the people, "get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don’t touch anything that belongs to them, lest you be included in their sins (and be destroyed with them)."
(Num 16:27 TLB) So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents ...
(Num 16:28 TLB) And Moses said, "By this you shall know that Jehovah has sent me to do all these things that I have done -- for I have not done them on my own.
(Num 16:29 TLB) If these men die a natural death or from some ordinary accident or disease, then Jehovah has not sent me.
(Num 16:30 TLB) But if the Lord does a miracle and the ground opens up and swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into hell, then you will know that these men have despised the Lord."
(Num 16:31 TLB) He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them,
(Num 16:32 TLB) and a great fissure swallowed them up, along with their tents and families and the friends who were standing with them, and everything they owned.
(Num 16:33 TLB) So they went down alive into hell and the earth closed upon them, and they perished.
(Num 16:34 TLB) All of the people of Israel fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them too.
(Num 16:35 TLB) Then fire came from Jehovah and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.
Wow -- what a story.
4 guys who were jealous because Moses was in charge, and because Aaron got to be the priest.
And they decided to rebel -- and God had the earth swallow them up,
And turned all their followers into toast.
Now -- This again proves that God deals differently with people today than he did in the old testament --
God no longer swallows people up as judgement -
If you’re glad for the age of grace say "praise the Lord ......"
But we can all identify with the feeelings that Korah and his followers had --
At some point in time all of us -- everyone say "he’s talking about me" --
All of us have questioned why someone else got a blessing and we didn’t.
Why someone else got the promotion and we didn’t,
Why someone else gets the honor and we don’t.
Most church troubles are over who has power and who doesn’t.
Look at the story of Saul and David -- the ultimate power struggle.
It all started with a young shepherd boy who showed up at the battle and killed a giant with a slingshot.
The next thing Saul knows women all over town are singing "Saul has killed his thousands, but David has killed his ten-thousands."
Saul could see the handwriting on the wall.
His time as king was limited.
And resentment began to rise up un his heart.
And at times the resentment was so strong that he would throw a spear at David hoping to kill him.
David killed his giant -- but Saul allowed his giant to kill him.
Because of jealosy Saul would never live up the anointed calling which God had called him to.
Jealosy took up so much room in his heart that the spirit of God had to leave -- forced out,
That’s the power of jealosy.
Two things I want you to see about jealosy:
1) It destroys others.
Look at the Hitlers of history.
His resentment of certain people caused such hatred that he behaved in a demonic way to destroy millions of lives and families.
"Well pastor I would never let it get that bad ..."
Maybe not -- but do you remember the story a few years ago,
The mother of a would-be cheerleader in Texas?
Two teen-agers competing for the same cheer leading spot.
And the mother of one of the girls murdered the other girl -- her daughters rival.
Jealosy is a monster -- and while we may intend to control it --
It can and will destroy others --
Not just physically -- but mentally, emotionally, socially, -- there are many ways to destroy another person.
2) Second -- it destroys us.
This is the most common victim of jealosy and envy.
Us -- Cain did indeed destroy Able -- but he also destroyed himself.
Driven from family and friends.
Saul did indeed hunt David --
But Saul’s life was the one that was destroyed.
Contrary to current psycho-babble --
Jealosy is not a personality disorder.
Jealosy is not a genetic trait you had no choice over.
Jealosy is not a result of environment nor social mal-adjustment.
Quite the opposite -- in Galations chapter 5, Paul is listing things which God considers sinful disobedience -- and in verse 20 it says ....
(Gal 5:20 NKJV) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
He mentioned it again in Romans ...
(Rom 1:29 NKJV) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
(Rom 1:30 NKJV) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(Rom 1:31 NKJV) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
(Rom 1:32 NKJV) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Side note -- notice all of the sins listed -- and notice Pauls commendation in verse 32 ..
Those who do thses things are sinners -- but so are those who who approve, condone, and help those who commit these things.
Don’t be helping someone commit sin.
You’re just as guilty as they are if you do.
Back to killing the giant of jealosy --
There are four things that we need to do to kill this giant --
1) renounce jealosy and envy as sin
Call it what it is.
As long as you think of it as a "short coming" or a "vice" you will never conquer it.
But when you label a sin -- when you treat it as serious as it reall is --
Then you’re ready to kill that giant.
2) whatever or whomever you are envious of or jealsous of -- pray for them
Jesus even commanded that we should pray for our enemies.
Now while we would like to think that he meant for us to pray "Get them God" --
I don’t think that is what he meant.
It’s hard to lift someone up in prayer and then be jealous of what going on in their life.
God not only rewards us when we pray for our enemies -
But he often brings miracles into our lives.
The weed of jealosy is deep and firmly entrenched,
But if you want to drive it out -- pray for the person you envy.
Pray for them often.
At first you may have to pray for them through clenched teeth and tight fists -
But that’s okay -- it’s a start, and God will honor your pray and your faith.
3) Count your blessings
Envy and jealosy are rooted in the concept that God hasn’t given us what we need.
Or that we are more deserinv of God’s blessing than someonelse is.
The fastest way to shoot down that theory is to take a blessing inventory.
And the quickest way to humilty is to ask the question --
"How many of those blessing did you honestly deserve?"
Ouch.
There is no way we can count our blessings, lok at our life, and with a straight face,
Look to God and say -- "I deserve more".
In fact, after we take inventory of our life and our blessings,
We most often wind up giving God thanks for His abundant grace.
It’s only His grace which has allowed us to have what we do have.
Taking an inventory of our blessings and realizing God’s incredible grace --
Will transform us from jealosy and envy to thanksgiving.
Gratitude transforms attitude.
4) Fall in love with God all over again
Paul had some powerful words for us in 1 Corinthians:
(1 Cor 13:4 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Love and envy / jealosy are opposites, like magnetic poles.
The magnetic charge of envy repels the magnetic charge of love.
But envy and jealosy attract all the other traits we read about in Galations 5.
You will attract what you are.
If you live in envy. jealosy and strife -- that is what you attract,
If you live in God’s love -- that’s what you attract.
And the love of God can only be rekindled by the transforming of His presence --
And that happens by spending time with Him.
His spirit will give you His mind.
His spirit will give you His perspective.
His desire to love people through us will overcome our desire to envy.
1) renounce jealosy and envy as sin
2) whatever or whomever you are envious of or jealsous of -- pray for them
3) Count your blessings
4) Fall in love with God all over again
