From the Pen of Paul

Envy: The Green-Eyed Monster

Envy: "Discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another, frequently in the Bible with the distinct idea of malice or spite. The revisions often replace it with jealousy" (Cruden's Complete Concordance).

From this definition we can see that envy is a feeling of ill will or discontent or resentment because of another's power or promotion or high position. Envy is one of the vilest emotions which can ever be cultivated in the human heart. It is capable of rising up and surging to even viler emotions. Envy is committed by the worst and also by those who are religious; most of the time those who are guilty of this vile sin can rationalize it away and make excuses for it in their lives.

You can observe envy at work through many of the characters and their deeds recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Cain, the first murderer, rose up and slew his brother because of envy (Gen. 37:12-28 — note especially vv. 18-19). The poison that envy is full of causes one to despise the very presence of noble and good people (Luke 6:22). And then there was Haman who had a gallows built to hang Mordecai. Why? Because of envy. Even though Haman was in a high position himself, he was greatly disturbed that Mordecai would not bow down at his feet (Esther 5:13; 6). Envy can become exceedingly cruel and cowardly!

It was due to envy that a trap was set for Daniel by the presidents and princes (Dan. 6). In this example we learn that oftentimes envious men are crafty and clever. They descend to trickery. When we come to the New Testament, we see a classic example of envy in the elder brother in the parable of the lost son in Luke 15. He resented his brother's return and especially his loving reception by his father (Luke 15:25-30). He could enumerate every sin his brother had committed, but he could not see his own envy, jealousy, and impenitent heart. Is that not true of all envious people?

The sin of envy was involved in the delivering up of Jesus to be crucified by the Jewish leaders (Matt. 27:17-18). Jesus was sinless, but that only created more envy in the hearts of men who had no intention of living up to His standard. The soul that is full of envy has no appreciation for the best people in the community or the congregation. If they are envious, they can twist everything said or done into a charge of wrongdoing. How sad!

What about today? A brother blackens the name of another brother because of envy. How does he do this? By gossip, by lying, by whispering, by slander, by evil speaking. When a malicious man sees that he cannot equal a brother in virtue or in honor, he begins to belittle, to defame, to downgrade, etc. Remember James said: For where envying and strife (selfishness) is, there is confusion (disorder) and every evil work (James 4:16). If we could eliminate envy from the world, we would go a long way toward eliminating a lot of other sins as well.

How should we react to envy? Envy often reaps what it sows (Gal. 6:7; Matt. 26:52). It reaps what it sows in like kind (quality) and it reaps more than it sows in quantity (Hos. 8:7). The individual who inflicts injury upon another suffers injury to himself. Cain became a fugitive and a vagabond after allowing his envy to overrule his reason (Gen. 4:11-14). The brothers who sold Joseph into bondage were humiliated and frightened when they learned that he was alive and in position to harm them (Gen. 42-45). Cruel and heartless Haman was hanged on the enormous gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:10). The Jewish leaders who had Daniel cast into the lions' den were devoured by the beasts themselves (Dan. 6:24). The Jewish leaders, who through envy delivered Jesus to be crucified brought sin upon their own heads (Acts 2: 22ff).

If we want to react properly to envy and if we want to help eliminate envy, we need to practice the divine remedy for that terrible sin. The divine remedy is love (I Cor. 13:4; I Pet. 1:22). Love is not grieved when others are honored, promoted, or highly praised (I Cor. 12:26; Rom. 13:8-10). What about you? Are you guilty of envy? Let all of us work at ridding ourselves of this terrible vice in the new year and always!
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Weak Preaching; Apostate Brethren

What is the duty of a faithful Christian? What is the duty of a faithful gospel preacher? We all have the responsibility to learn the truth and live right. All of us have the responsibility to stand for the truth of the gospel both in word and in deed. If we look at the apostolic example and especially the writings of the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, we will find that much of the writing he did was to correct false ideas and false practices in the early church. We have done our best to follow the example God has set forth in His Holy Word when it comes to preaching, teaching, and writing. We need to exhort in writing and teaching but we must also set things in order that need attention. There never comes a time to cease doing this. We would prefer to always commend and agree but such cannot be done if we would do as God bids.

There is a denominational preacher by the name of Joel Osteen on our channel 21. He is very famous in today's world because he never condemns but is always on the positive side and he glories in this. He does not do a very good job of preaching on the ten commandments of Exodus 20. Seven of the ten commandments are negative—"thou shalt nots." Is God right or is Osteen right as to what should be done in teaching and preaching? As for me and my work, I intend to serve the Lord and follow His commands and His teaching.

Brother Max Lucado of San Antonio, Texas, started out preaching the gospel. Somewhere along the line he left the truth and started preaching denominationalism and associating with such as much as he could. He is now a full-fledged false teacher. He teaches one is saved by faith only and also the sinner's prayer.

Many in the church of Christ have done what he has done. We were looking at the Lectures at Pepperdine University for 2008 and they totally represent the denominational church of Christ today. Order for yourself a copy of that program and look at the ones appearing there.

Where is the voice of those who are supposed to be faithful to Christ relative to the liberals among us today? Some prefer Barabbas to Christ these days (Matt. 27:21-22). Some can tolerate any doctrine and any person before the faithful men of God and the truth of the gospel. The manliness and strong stand for the Word of God is no longer in their hearts if it ever was there. Some brethren fight the good and scriptural things and uphold false and weak brethren. There is a payday some day (Eccl. 12:13-14; II Cor. 5:10). Little attention is paid to God's judgment day because it seems to be a long time off and some seem to think it never will take place, but it will.
—Malcolm L. Hill