Envy: It's A Killer

# 257 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 18:6-9, “Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." 8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" 9 So Saul eyed David from that day forward. (1 Sam 18:6-9) “So Saul eyed David from that day forward.”Envy. It's a killer. It's a common topic in Scripture, let's listen to what the Holy Spirit says about envy: Job 5:2 For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one.” Pr 14:30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.” Doesn't sound very healthy does it? It was envy that moved the religious rulers to crucify Jesus. Mt 27:18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” Likewise it was envy over large crowds that moves the Jews to action against Paul, Ac 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. It is almost always connected to unhealthy strife: Ro 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 1Co 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? It is far removed from love: 1Co 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ” And it confuses our thinking: Jas 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. The cure? Remember these words from Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Jesus is our cure for envy. He is our portion. Ps 73:26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. When envy starts to rise up in you, remember your portion and cling to Jesus. Father guard my heart from the deadly sin of envy.