Sunday July 24, 2016

The Evil Of Envy

-JOHN 11:47-57

Key Verse:

"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles" (John 11:47).

Envy is a deep seated vice that cannot be easily tamed by anyone. It takes the grace of God and the determination of the heaven-bound saints to rid themselves of this negative mindset. On hearing about the popularity of Christ's ministry, the priests and members of the sect of the Pharisees gathered together to plot against Him out of envy. They were amazed and worried about the many miracles of healing and supernatural deliverances taking place. And when the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead took place, they were completely pushed to a corner. These religious bigots became troubled because something good was happening for which they were not in a position to take credit. They had taught error and fed the people with a doctrine that could not save because it was essentially a cocktail of the damnable traditions of elders. Many of those who are in so-called God's service are doing so out of envy of the few who are genuinely serving God. They assume that because of the reverence and awe accorded these saints of God, they believe in their erroneous mind-set that they too could hit the limelight by preaching false doctrines and topics that catch the fancy of their adherents. And just as the machinations of Theudas and Judas of Galilee came to naught, so shall these merchant men, in the garb of pastors and preachers, eventually head for the rocks. Envy and jealousy are twin evils that must never be once named among saints. If you have noticed a trace of either of these evils, you must give yourself no rest until you have prayed them out of your life, for the unrighteous shall never inherit the kingdom of God.

Thought for the day: The bile of envy is as poisonous as a snake bite.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 CHRONICLES 22 - 25