Title: Aspects of Love
Love Does not Envy
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends…
“I can’t believe that someone like Jim is getting promoted to the very position I’ve been dreaming about for years. I’m ten times more qualified for the job than he is.”
“Why didn’t they ask me to teach the Sunday school class? They never ask me to do anything at this church!”
“If I invite Suzie to the party, she and Joan will become friends and they will end up spending all their free time playing tennis together and I’ll end up out in the cold, not being able to spend time with either one of them.”
Lou Priolo
James 1:14–15 (ESV)
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 1:14-15
Event/Opportunity + Desire = Sin
Zēlóō = to have intense negative feelings over another’s achievements or success, be filled with jealousy, envy
It is more directed at the intangible things rather than the tangible material things
“Envy is coveting that which belongs to another, and being angry (or at least displeased) with him because he is able to enjoy that which you cannot.”
Lou Priolo
These feelings also have a positive, flip side. Be positively and intensely interested in something.
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed.
Celebrate the achievements or success of another.
Celebrate, rejoice, be glad
Luke 15:25–32 (ESV)
1 Samuel 18:6–9 (ESV)
Luke 10:17–21 (ESV)
- Love God more than everything else.
- Examine your desires.
- Be content.
- Rest in God’s sovereignty.
- Celebrate, Rejoice, be glad.
- Serve.
Lou Priolo
2 Corinthians 12:9–10
Philippians 4:6–7