Seeing Clearly: Everyone Has It Better Than Me

September 4th, 2022 | Casey Middle School

Lie: Everyone Has It Better Than Me

Passage: James 3:13-18 CSB

Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Story: My neighbor growing up. We both envied each other.

Background:

The book of James emphasizes that faith is demonstrated by our works. It’s not our works that save us, but as a result of Christ’s power and authority over our lives, we demonstrate our walk with Christ by how we live our lives. In this text, James is also telling us how wisdom is demonstrated by good conduct and gentleness.

James starts off chapter 3 by addressing the role and characteristics of a teacher or someone seeking a role in a spiritual office.

In the text we read, James is leaning into the spiritual maturity of believers and is calling attention to two earthly characteristics in particular, envy and selfish ambition. These are no minor flaws, he goes on to say that they are unspiritual and demonic!

Envy Definition:

Noun: a feeling of discontented or resentful (bitter) longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.

Verb: desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else).

Main Points:

1. Envy Distorts Truth (13-14)

   1. Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.

   2. Lies the enemy is telling you about ENVY:

      1. If I had what that person had then I’d be satisfied
      2. If I had a different spouse then I’d be happier
      3. If I were at that church then I wouldn’t have the same problems I have at this church
      4. If I had as much money as _______ then I’d be more generous
      5. If I were as successful as everyone else then I’d be more content

      6. LIES!!! The enemy of truth… is coming for your heart, mind, and soul! He wants you to live discontent, distracted, and dissatisfied in every area of your life.

         3. Lies the enemy is telling you about SELFISH AMBITION:

      7. It’s not going to hurt them that badly

      8. Go ahead and gossip about them, they deserve it
      9. It’s only a little lie, nobody will ever know
      10. I can soften my doctrine so long as I’m still loving people… (you hearing me?)
      11. I can fudge on integrity so long as I get further… God understands.
      12. I can always apologize and they’ll forgive me anyways.
          4. The spirit of envy is a tool of the devil that’s meant to distort God’s truth in your heart, mind, and spirit.
          5. Envy not only distorts the truth you share, but it distorts the truth you see.
      13. The text says “don’t boast and deny the truth.”
      14. When you’re filled with envy, you see things with a skewed perspective of reality. You’ve replaced Godly wisdom with Satanic lies.
      15. Even on Insta, what you see of people’s lives is not reality! But we define our reality based on our skewed perspective.
      16. We see a friend in Hawaii… and we think “Good for them”... “That should be me”... “What makes them so great”... “I hate that guy!”
      17. Lie: Everyone Has It Better Than Me

      18. Envy and comparison poison your ability to genuinely celebrate the joys and successes of others!

          6. Relationships are built on trust. And trust is built on truth. Envy, lying, and selfish ambition is a relationship killer!
          7. But Pastor, I have a righteous envy....

      19. Envy can affect both temporary and eternal endeavors.

      20. “I wish I had the platform they have.” “I wish I had the social influence as her so that I could reach more people.” “I wish our church was as big as that other church.”
      21. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to run the race God has set before you if you’re looking to your right or to your left, you are called to run your race. Not looking back, not looking around, but running forward toward the prize of the upward calling.

2. Envy Disrupts Harmony

   1. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.
   2. Can you imagine an atmosphere where everyone in the room was comparing and competing against one another constantly? How could you celebrate what God is doing? How could you build up the body of Christ? How could you be a change agent towards love and unity with comparison as your motivation?

   3. Envy is short sighted

      1. Illust: social media
      2. Working on bringing harmony, maintaining a gentle spirit, and showing faithful good conduct is a long and often hard road.
      3. Envy says “I see that grass and I want it now!” But how many of you know, that going from weeds and dirt to plush grass is a long and often difficult task?
      4. You don’t have to be better than everyone else! You don’t have to be better than anyone else! Stop comparing! You just work on being the best version of yourself! Focus on your grass! What you’re planting.
      5. Lie: Everyone Has It Better Than Me

      6. Envy looks to fulfill an earthly desire that can only be fulfilled by Kingdom seeking.

         4. Story of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30

      7. You are only responsible for what you have been entrusted with

      8. Everyone didn’t receive the same, but you don’t hear the one with 2 talents saying “Why didn’t I get 5?!”
      9. You are called to steward your own grass! Your own marriage! Your own finances! Your own spiritual gifts! Your own friendships! If I have 1… I’m going to make the most of it!
      10. Anything big that you see as little, becomes small.

3. Envy Destroys Relationships

   1. A deadly combo - bitter envy and selfish ambition.

      1. I not only have an unhealthy desire for what you have, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get what you have. This is demonic and it’s a tool straight from the enemy to destroy your relationships.

         2. “Comparison kills contentment.” - Rich Wilkerson Jr.

      2. Comparison produces confusion, conflict, and corruption.

      3. How many here today feel discontent in where they are in life? Discontent at work. Discontent in your relationships. Discontent with school. Discontent with your appearance. Discontent with your career?
      4. Lie: Everyone Has It Better Than Me
      5. It’s hard to feel discontent with where you are when you’re focused on serving and loving others around you. You can’t do both with an authentic spirit.
      6. Having a drive and a passion to work hard and be better is all well and good, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, how often is our motive more driven by envy than a disciplined work ethic?

Closing:

Does somebody that is envious have the fruits of the Spirit? love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Galatians 5:16-24

Lie: Everyone Has It Better Than Me

Worry about your own grass! The grass may be greener on the other side, but work on the soil God has planted you in! Cultivate peace, sow seeds of grace and truth, work hard in the place God has you in the season and you will see fruit! God is doing a special work in your soil. If you’re too busy looking over the fence, you’ll miss what’s right under your feet!

You can never produce fruit in your neighbor's garden! God has you here for a reason, for a purpose, to be ROOTED in Him, His Word, and His Work!

Illust: When I work on my property, then I increase the value of everyone’s property around me.

Comparison leads to strife, Celebration leads to joy! Let’s be a church that celebrates what God is doing in others’ lives and looks to wisdom from above to lead and guide our motives and actions!

Anytime you start to feel comparison creep in, you start to compete against your friends and family, celebrate!

Invitation:

Let’s pray.