Making the right comparisons

Feb12

COMPARING OURSELVES

(COVETOUSNESS, ENVY AND BITTERNESS)

Beth Johnson

Sometimes children (or immature adults) may say, “I will get mad if you do something for someone else and not for me.”  “I see you giving something to someone, and I want the same thing even if I don’t need it or cannot use it.”

  • “For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one” (Job 5:2).
  • “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30).
  • “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Pro. 27:4).
  • “Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him” (Matt. 27:17-18).
  • “For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them” (Mark 15:10).
  • “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house” (Acts 7:9-10).
  • “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming” (Acts 13:45).
  • “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus” (Acts 17:5-7).
  • “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:28-32).
  • “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds” (Phil. 1: 15-16).
  • “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).

This covetous, envious attitude is the exact opposite of what the Lord has commanded Christians to have. “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35).

In every congregation we must also teach that we are not to compare ourselves with each other but only with Jesus himself.  “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor. 10:12).  “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44)  “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Rom. 2:28-29).

So what makes us different from one another?  “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27).  “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7).  “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” (Heb. 12:15).

Take a long look at the word bitterness in the Greek dictionary: Greek # 4088. pikria;; from 4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively: — bitterness.  AV (4)- bitterness 4; bitter gall extreme wickedness a bitter root, and so producing a bitter fruit metaph. bitterness, bitter hatred.

You and I could likely think of many examples where a root of bitterness destroyed a family or even a congregation.  Once someone starts on this course, the Devil gives him plenty of opportunity and excuses to continue.  Beware when someone in the congregation wants to “bend your ear” about someone!  If that is all they can talk about, you can be sure a root of bitterness is growing.  They may have a personal vendetta and not a doctrinal issue at all.

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