Injustice & Envy

This sermon continues the series "A Better Way" based on Apostle Paul's teaching about greater gifts, with love being the greatest gift. The pastor defines character of the heart as the true characteristics of a person revealed from the central point of life (the heart). Scripture uses the word "heart" to refer to the true inner person, not the biological organ. Apostle Paul teaches that true love is not envious, does not boast, is not arrogant, and these characteristics are especially important during times of trials, tribulations, and losses. Envy is identified as a cancer afflicting all people, regardless of wealth or poverty, age, or belief. Paul writes about those whom God has abandoned to live according to their own desires, they are "full of envy". The pastor clearly distinguishes between God's righteous jealousy (qanna in Hebrew) and human envy (envy in English). God's jealousy stems from genuine, complete love and faithfulness to the people He loves, while human envy is not only the desire for what others have but also becomes bitter, resentful, even hateful, and even gleeful when seeing others lose what they have. Envy causes people to "weep when others rejoice and rejoice when others weep", completely contrary to Scripture's teaching to "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep".

The pastor explains that envy is a path leading to death, considered one of the seven deadly sins in Christian tradition. Through analysis of Asaph's emotional struggle in Psalm 73, the pastor identifies two poisons of envy: first, it depletes and drains the vitality and joy from life; second, it destroys satisfaction with what one already possesses, making nothing in life feel sufficient because the envious person constantly compares with others. Envy is the only sin among the seven deadly sins that brings no satisfaction whatsoever to those who commit it. The sermon uses the Snow White story to illustrate how envy prevents the evil queen from eating well or sleeping peacefully, even driving her to attempt to murder the princess to become the fairest herself. The sermon analyzes the impact of modern consumer economy and advertising, showing how they encourage comparison and make people feel perpetually lacking despite abundance. The pastor notes that due to envy and comparison, many people fall into debt, divorce, or dissatisfaction with what they have. Quoting from Ecclesiastes by King Solomon, the pastor observes that all human endeavor is motivated by rivalry and desire, yet eventually passes away, proving to be mere vanity and striving after wind. This connects to the Adam and Eve story in the Garden of Eden, where Satan exploited their dissatisfaction with God's provision to tempt them into sin.

Through three healing steps revealed by Asaph in Psalm 73, the sermon guides believers on overcoming envy. The first step is not to deceive oneself but to acknowledge that one is infected with the disease of envy and understand its deadly consequences, as Asaph did in honest confession before God. The second step is to enter into God's sanctuary, not merely attending the temple by habit but experiencing God's presence, power, glory, and love, and directing one's heart toward God's eternity while recognizing the brevity, transience, and fragility of earthly life. The third step is, even when not understanding why, even when feeling foolish like a beast before God due to envious anger, to continue holding fast to God, allowing Him to hold one's hand and guide through all circumstances of life. This provides great comfort to believers knowing that God Himself holds their hand, teaches, guides, and ultimately receives them into His glorious heavenly kingdom forever. The sermon concludes with a striking contrast between Asaph (an envious person yet held by God's hand) and Jesus Christ (completely sinless yet abandoned by His Father on the cross), illustrating that Christ was abandoned so we would not be abandoned, and through Christ's redemption, all who believe in His redemption will never be abandoned by God.