Give Solomon's words
concerning the over powering strength of envy.
"Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before
envy?" Prov. 27:4.
What Scripture shows the
exceeding cruelty of jealousy?
"Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of
fire, which hath a most vehement flame." Song of Solomon 8:6.
What striking
illustration do we find of this?
"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one and slew his brother. And wherefore
slew he him? Because his own works were evil and his brother's
righteous." 1 John 3:12.
Can a man be a murderer
in spirit?
"Whosoever hateth his
brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:15.
Give other circumstances
where men have been controlled by an envious spirit, and state the result.
"And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt." Acts
7:9. "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting
and blaspheming." Acts 13:45.
What is the condition of
things where envy reigns?
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil
work. " James 3:16.
What effect does envy
have upon its possessor?
"For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly
one." Job 5:2. "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy, the rottenness
of the bones." Prov. 14:30.
Show the persistency of
those who are actuated by envy.
"Full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, ...who knowing
the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Rom. 1:29-32.
How free from malice
should the child of God be, even toward an enemy?
"Rejoice not when thine
enemy falleth, and let not o thine heart be glad when he stumbleth." Prov.
24:17. "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you
and persecute you." Matt. 5:44.
Will any be saved who
retain the spirit of envy in the heart?
"Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21.
Is this sentence just?
"But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against
them which commit such things." Rom. 2:2.
What is the fountain from
which both good and evil spring?
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth
forth that which is evil." Luke 6:45.
Then why should the heart
be watched closely?
"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of
life." Prov. 4:23.