Text: Numbers 12

Topic: Why envy angers God and how to deal with it constructively.

• Miriam and Aaron aren't alone in their struggle with the sin of envy.

• When we compare ourselves with others, we fall prey to envy.
• Jealousy arises from mistrust of another; envy is wanting what someone else has.
• We're taught to compare by our parents, by society, by advertising.
• We're most susceptible to envy where we feel most vulnerable.

Illustration: Beach says her is weakest in domestic life, and she's envious of Martha S, including her own , who is talented around the house, godly and loving.

 

• Envy devalues my because I look outside of myself to value myself.
• Envy distances us from God because it leads us to think we know better than him.
• Envy destroys community because it spoils our enjoyment of others.

• Call envy what it is and admit our feelings.
• Stop making comparisons; don't view people in a hierarchy.
• Use envy as a stimulus for change to help you work toward attainable goals.
• Reaffirm your uniqueness and choices.
• Stop hiding and start talking to the person you envy.
• Celebrate the gifts and opportunities of others.
• Find your contentment and significance in God.

• God knows how deadly envy is, and he asks us to get rid of it.

Illustration: While Beach runs laps at the YMCA, she sometimes envies faster runners. She doesn't need to compete with them, however, but only needs to run her own race.