Emotions: Jealousy Part 1

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;

but who is able to stand before envy?

We don't have to teach children to be jealous of one another.  They always want to largest piece of cake, the best toy, and some of their favorite words are "It's not fair", not because they want justice, but because they are greedy and jealous of one another.  It's just part of their nature.

Jealousy doesn't fade away when we grow up.  We don't grow out of it.  We look at those around us and wish we could be like them or have what they have.  Women who have to work, envy women who have careers.  Women who have children are envious of women who are able to do what she likes, and women who have no children, look with envy on those who have babies.  We are never happy with our lot in life.

1.  Envy is like a disease.  How does Solomon say it affects us in Proverbs 14:30?

2.  Jealousy brings with it other emotions--envy, resentment, bitterness, covetousness.  When these forms of jealousy overtake our hearts it shows itself in subtle and not so subtle ways.

• a.  Luke 11:39 tells us why greed or envy is sometimes hard to discover. __________
• b.  What does Psalm 101:5 say comes out of the mouth?  __________
• c.  And what speech is spoken of in Proverbs 25:23?  __________
• d.  Greed and envy become a habit of the heart.  How does Peter describe such a one in II Peter 2:14?  __________

3.  Greed, Envy, Selfishness, Covetousness:  they are all intertwined.  They are such a danger to our hearts that God included it in His Ten Commandments.  Exodus 20:17, "Thous shalt not, they neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's."  What are some of the consequences according to Proverbs 15:27 and Habakkuk 2:9?  __________

4.  What is the alternative to covetousness, according to Psalm 119:36?  __________

5.  What does God's Word tell us to do?  Solomon says, "the righteous giveth and spareth not"  Proverbs 21:26.  How does this giving attitude play itself out, according to I Corinthians 10:24 and Philippians 2:4?  __________

Jealousy to be continued. . . .