Creekside Church, Sunday, Jan 19, 2025
Envy
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 8:25 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:15 AM
What do you do when envy takes over?
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ENVY is a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.
Some emotions in this series have a positive side.
But envy does not.
For followers of Jesus, envy is what we call sin.
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ENVY does
Proverbs 14:30 - “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Exodus 20:17 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
- Not good for community
Leads to hatred and the desire to destroy.
Envy says, "I’m happy b/c you’re sad. I’m sad b/c you’re happy."
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ENVY IS A VISION PROBLEM
Proverbs 28:22: "A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want will come upon him"
Dante – 14th century – Purgatorio - creative depiction of the afterlife, filled with symbolism and allegory – punishment for the envious in purgatory is having their eyes sown shut.
Inside Out 2 – Envy – big eyes (even Pixar knows)
Nvidia – latin for envy (invidia)
Want to be the envy of their competitors.
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When you're stuck in Envy, remember that you don’t see the whole picture.
Michelangelo - "If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.”
We crop out the cost.
We crop out the mess.
And then we copy.
Crop and copy. Crop and copy.
How often are we comparing our everyday to someone else’s highlight reel social media?
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What is it that your eyes are desiring?
Two reflections on the words of Jesus to end.
John 20 (NET)
18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up[au] and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) 21 So when Peter saw him,[be] he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!”
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Matthew 20 (NIV)
Verse. 15 - "Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
More literal - "is your eye evil because I am good?"
----------
10th Commandment - Do not covet.
Blessing. When you follow the first 9, you won’t want anyone else’s life.
When you follow Jesus, when you love his grace and life in the kingdom of God here and now, you won’t want anyone else’s life.
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PRAYER TO FIX OUR EYES
PRESENT
Thank you for this moment. Your presence. Breath in our lungs.
Behold God, beholding you and smiling.
PAST
Remember all our blessings.
Bring our envy to the foot of the cross.
Jesus, all you have already done for us is more than enough.
FUTURE
Jesus is calling us to follow him on the journey he has called us.
We have unique gifts in unique contexts.
Help us to only want to follow you and glorify you.
Help us to only want to see your kingdom come.
----------
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
----------
ENVY is a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.
Some emotions in this series have a positive side.
But envy does not.
For followers of Jesus, envy is what we call sin.
----------
ENVY does
Proverbs 14:30 - “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Exodus 20:17 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
- Not good for community
Leads to hatred and the desire to destroy.
Envy says, "I’m happy b/c you’re sad. I’m sad b/c you’re happy."
----------
ENVY IS A VISION PROBLEM
Proverbs 28:22: "A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want will come upon him"
Dante – 14th century – Purgatorio - creative depiction of the afterlife, filled with symbolism and allegory – punishment for the envious in purgatory is having their eyes sown shut.
Inside Out 2 – Envy – big eyes (even Pixar knows)
Nvidia – latin for envy (invidia)
Want to be the envy of their competitors.
----------
When you're stuck in Envy, remember that you don’t see the whole picture.
Michelangelo - "If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.”
We crop out the cost.
We crop out the mess.
And then we copy.
Crop and copy. Crop and copy.
How often are we comparing our everyday to someone else’s highlight reel social media?
----------
What is it that your eyes are desiring?
Two reflections on the words of Jesus to end.
John 20 (NET)
18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up[au] and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) 21 So when Peter saw him,[be] he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!”
----------
Matthew 20 (NIV)
Verse. 15 - "Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
More literal - "is your eye evil because I am good?"
----------
10th Commandment - Do not covet.
Blessing. When you follow the first 9, you won’t want anyone else’s life.
When you follow Jesus, when you love his grace and life in the kingdom of God here and now, you won’t want anyone else’s life.
----------
PRAYER TO FIX OUR EYES
PRESENT
Thank you for this moment. Your presence. Breath in our lungs.
Behold God, beholding you and smiling.
PAST
Remember all our blessings.
Bring our envy to the foot of the cross.
Jesus, all you have already done for us is more than enough.
FUTURE
Jesus is calling us to follow him on the journey he has called us.
We have unique gifts in unique contexts.
Help us to only want to follow you and glorify you.
Help us to only want to see your kingdom come.
----------
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.