The way to overcome envy is to realize that whatever gifts we have comes from God, and whatever the other person has, also comes from God.
Sermon Title: ENVY: THE SIN WE DIDN’T KNOW WE HAD
Sermon Text: 1 SAMUEL 18:6-16 (NIV)
Sermon Series: FLIP SIDE: STUDY OF THE LIFE OF DAVID
By: PTR NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
1 SAMUEL 18:6-16 NIV
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
“Envy is the art of counting your neighbors’ blessings
instead of your own.”
1 SAMUEL 18:2 NIV
2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.
1 SAMUEL 18:3 NIV
3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
1 SAMUEL 18:5 NIV
5 Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well.
I. CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVY
1 SAMUEL 18:6-7 NIV
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
1. Envy cannot stand it when others are doing better.
1 SAMUEL 18:8 NIV
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
ANGRY | Hebrew charah
“burn within”
GALL | Hebrew ra’a’
“inner turmoil”
PROVERBS 14:30 NIV
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
2. Envy causes us to compare ourselves to others.
1 SAMUEL 18:8 NIV
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
It’s hard to count your own blessings when you’re busy counting someone else’s.
ROMANS 12:3 NIV
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
3. Envy consumes us.
1 SAMUEL 18:9 NIV
9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
II. CONSEQUENCES OF ENVY
1 SAMUEL 18:12 NIV
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
SAUL’S ATTEMPTS ON DAVID’S LIFE
a. He tries to kill David with a spear (18:10-11)
1 SAMUEL 18:10-11 NIV
10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
b. He makes David a commander in his army (18:12-30).
1 SAMUEL 18:17 NI
17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”
1 SAMUEL 18:23 NIV
23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
c. He tries to spear David again (19:9-10)
1 SAMUEL 19:9-10 NIV
10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.
d. He tries to kill David in his sleep (19:11-17)
e. He tries to kill David in Ramah (19:18-24)
1 SAMUEL 19:24 NIV
24 He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
1. Envy blinds you to God’s work in others.
1 SAMUEL 18:12-14 NIV
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-7 NIV
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
2. Envy keeps you from loving others as you should.
1 SAMUEL 18:15-16 NIV
15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
ROMANS 13:8 NIV
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
“Envy and love are incompatible; and if we indulge in one,
Washington Irving
we necessarily sacrifice the other.”
3. Envy destroys your relationships.
1 SAMUEL 18:28-29 NIV
28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
1 SAMUEL 18:8 NIV
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
III. CURE FOR ENVY
When we envy, our struggle is not with the person we envy. Our real struggle is with God.
1. Confess your sin.
1 PETER 2:1 NIV
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
JAMES 3:14-15 NIV
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
2. Pray for the success of those you envy.
MATTHEW 27:17-18 NIV
17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
LUKE 23:34 NIV
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
3. Thank God for the things you envy in others.
NUMBERS 11:29 NIV
29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”
4. Cultivate gratitude.
1 TIMOTHY 4:4-5 NIV
4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
The way to overcome envy is to realize that whatever gifts we have comes from God, and whatever the other person has, also comes from God.