Love - Lesson 5: Love Lived Out (3) – Does not Envy / Is not Jealous

Love

Lesson 5: Love Lived Out (3) – Does not Envy / Is not Jealous

1 Corinthians 13:4b love doesn’t envy

1 Corinthians 13:4b [LEB] love is not jealous

ENVY, v.t.

1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.

Envy not thou the oppressor. Prov.3.

Whoever envies another, confesses his superiority.

“envy.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/envy (26 August 2015).

ENVY, n.

1. a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

"envy." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 27 Aug. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/envy>.

JEALOUS, a.

2. Suspicious that we do not enjoy the affection or respect of others, or that another is more loved and respected than ourselves.

3. Emulous; full of competition.

“jealous.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/jealous (26 August 2015).

The Main Points for This Lesson:

This series of lessons will center around love as seen in chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The purpose of these lessons is to teach about love: love's importance; what love looks like lived out, including what it is and what it isn't, and what it does and what it doesn't do; love's greatness.

In describing love, the apostle Paul first says that love is patient and love is kind. He then begins to tell us some things that love is not. In this description of love, we are faces with our own behaviors, choices, attitudes and actions. We are confronted with the fact of the true nature of these things in our lives. We can no longer so easily talk of our love for others while going on in our pride, envy, or self-seeking, etc.

Eight things are listed, one after the other, describing what love is not or does not. While they are individual items, they are all in some way connected to the other items around them. What would happen to our envying if our pride were put away? If we didn't count our own self and our own way most important, would we be so easily provoked when others do not treat us and our way as most important?

Love does not envy, or love is not jealous. The first of these eight items is that love does not envy, or it is not jealous. In life, we meet others who possess more or better things, who have attained more or better success, who are more intelligent or wiser, who have or are in some way more or better. Envy is not just see this about others. In seeing this, we are unhappy, miserable, or discontent. We cannot rejoice with those who rejoice, because of envy.

Love does not envy. Love can see that others may in some way be or have more or better. Seeing this does not lead love to unhappiness. Rather, love rejoices with those who rejoice. Love is happy when others do well. Love thanks God when another walks in obedience to God. When two men prophesied in the camp, Joshua was not happy. Envy was whispering in his ear. Moses, upon hearing of these two men, demonstrated his love for God's children when he wished that all of God's people would prophesy, possessing God's Spirit (Numbers 11:24-30). When David slew Goliath, the women praised David higher than King Saul. Instead of rejoicing that a mighty enemy of God's people was destroyed, King Saul was unhappy that David was praised more than he was (1 Samuel 18:6-9). In that, he did not show a love for God's people, but a self-seeking attitude.

Do not envy the wicked. It seems that envy is never good. Yet it should be noted that there is more than one object of envy. If someone does a good deed, we ought to rejoice, rather than envy, being unhappy because they did it and I didn't. However, we are warned many times that we should not envy the wicked. Perhaps in pursuing wickedness, men have gained more power, possessions, position, etc. We should never envy them. They will quickly pass away, finding only God's wrath in the end. In the case of the wicked, we should not envy, nor are we called to rejoice in their gains through wickedness. In this case, love does not rejoice in, or even desire, their possessions, power, or position. Rather, love sees the lost and enslaved state of their soul, and desires what it for the eternal health of their soul.

Love does not envy because love desires what is good for others. Love is happy when others are blessed. In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the older brother becomes angry when he hears his younger brother has returned and a feast has been prepared for him. On the other hand, the father rejoiced at the humble and repentant return of his younger son. Love does not become unhappy at the well-being of others. Love delights in the good of its neighbor.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are having some lessons on 1 Corinthians 13, about love. While 1 Corinthians 13 is not the only place God teaches us about love, it provides a very helpful, practical, and (perhaps) easily understood description of love.

In this lesson, we will learn about what love looks like lived out in our lives.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4b. “Love does not envy” is the focus of this lesson. Give a simple explanation of what it means to envy. To envy is to be unhappy because someone else has more or does better or is better than us in some way. Envy is similar to coveting, but not the same. Coveting is wanting what another person has. Envying is being unhappy because they have it.

Once it seems the children understand what it means to envy, you can ask them if they have ever envied someone.

Read the story of the two men prophesying in the camp in Numbers 11:24-30. This story gives an example of envy (Joshua) and of love not envying (Moses). Ask some questions. Who envied? Who did not envy?

Read the story of David and King Saul in 1 Samuel 18:6-9. Let the children know that this takes place after David killed Goliath (see verse 6). Ask some questions. What did the women say about David? What did they say about King Saul? When King Saul heard this, what was his response? Why do you think he responded this way? David had just killed Goliath, who was a strong enemy of the Israelites. Does King Saul's response show that he was thankful or that he loved God's people first, or does it show that he cared about himself first?

Ask the children again if they can think of a time when they have envied. If they can think of such a time, ask them how they might have responded differently if they had been guided by love instead of by envy.

To close the lesson, pray with the children (perhaps that we could learn to serve one another through love) and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

Numbers 11:24-30 [24] Moses went out, and told the people Yahweh’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent. [25] Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. [26] But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. [27] A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” [28] Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!” [29] Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!” [30] Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

Moses was the prophet. When two other men were prophesying in the camp, Joshua was unhappy with their blessing. This is envy. Joshua told Moses to forbid these men from prophesying. Moses was not unhappy about this. His concern was not his own glory or position in Israel. Rather, he was concerned first with the eternal souls of God's people.

1 Samuel 18:6-9 [6] As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music. [7] The women sang one to another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.” [8] Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?” [9] Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

More Stories and Examples:

Genesis 37:3-11,18-20 [3] Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. [4] His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him. [5] Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. [6] He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: [7] for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.” [8] His brothers said to him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. [9] He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.” [10] He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?” [11] His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind. [18] They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. [19] They said one to another, “Behold, this dreamer comes. [20] Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”

Acts 7:9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,

Psalm 106:16-18 [16] They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint. [17] The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. [18] A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.

Matthew 27:15-18 [15] Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired. [16] They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. [17] When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” [18] For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

Mark 15:6-14 [6] Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. [7] There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. [8] The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. [9] Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” [10] For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. [11] But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. [12] Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?” [13] They cried out again, “Crucify him!” [14] Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”

Mark 9:38-40 [38] John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” [39] But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. [40] For whoever is not against us is on our side.

Luke 9:49-50 [49] John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.” [50] Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”

Luke 15:11-32 [25] “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. [27] He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ [28] But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. [29] But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ [31] “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

Acts 5:13-18 [13] None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. [14] More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. [15] They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. [16] Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed. [17] But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, [18] and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.

Acts 13:42-45 [42] So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. [43] Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. [44] The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. [45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.

3 John 1:9-10 [9] I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. [10] Therefore if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.

Other Verses:

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Job 5:2 For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

Psalm 112:1-10 [1] Praise Yah! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments. [2] His seed will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. [3] Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever. [4] Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous. [5] It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment. [6] For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever. [7] He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh. [8] His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries. [9] He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor. [10] The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.

The wicked see the prosperity, the blessedness of the upright. When they see it, they are grieved, they are unhappy. The wicked is not happy for another's well-being, but is unhappy that another has received what he does not (and cannot) possess.

Proverbs 14:30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Acts 7:9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,

Romans 1:28-32 [28] Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; [29] being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, [30] backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; [32] who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 13:13-14 [13] Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 [1] Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. [2] I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, [3] for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

Galatians 5:19-26 [19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, [] [23] gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. [26] Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

Philippians 2:3-4 [3] doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Love does not count itself best, but others better or more important. Love looks out for the things of others.

James 3:13-18 [13] Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 4:5 [KJV] Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

This verse seems to be difficult to translate. The various translations suggest different meanings. This translation suggests the nature of our spirit. As people on this earth, we are inclined to lust to envy. We see the immediate pleasures of the sinful world around us and envy them. In envying them, we lust or desire evil things, and so become adulterers, being friends of the world and enemies of God.

1 Peter 2:1-3 [1] Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, [2] as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow, [3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

DON'T ENVY THE WICKED

Psalm 37:1-3 [1] Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. [3] Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

Psalm 73:1-3 [1] Surely God [] is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. [2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. [3] For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Proverbs 3:31-33 [31] Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. [32] For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. [33] Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

Proverbs 24:1-2 [1] Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them: [2] for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

Proverbs 24:19-20 [19] Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked: [20] for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.