14. Talking of Envy and Idleness

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Hymns: 314 Nearer, Still Nearer 315 Walk in the Light 320 ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

– Talking of Envy and Idleness

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

 

OUTLINE

  • Not Envy of Heart (v4)
  • Not Idleness of Hand (v5)
  • But Responsibility and Contentment (v6)

 

INTRODUCTION

It is interesting to take a step back and be an observer in the affairs of man. What is this man doing with his life? Why is he doing that? What will be the end of such behaviour? Analyzing human behaviour makes an interesting study when it is guided by the wisdom of God’s laws.

This is what Solomon is doing as he observes the activities of men on earth. What are they up to? Why do they do what they do? What is the motive and intent of their action?

Solomon has begun chapter four by talking of oppression. The strong man devoureth the weak man. The sad plight of the oppressed – their tears, sorrow, the helplessness and the injustice. With the strong man is unrighteous power, the unjust use of might. He asked, “Who has not seem such evil work under the sun?” A common sight in the history of man as we have seen last week.

Solomon now brings us to see in verses 4-6, the rivalry between men and the reactions or responses to such contention.

 

Two thoughts:

  • Not Envy of Heart (v4)
  • Not Idleness of Hand (v5)
  • But Responsibility and Contentment (v6)

 

(1) Not Envy of Heart (v4)

4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

 He says, “And I, I see all the toil that leads to endless trouble, and every useful work, all the envy of man (that leads to rivalry) with his neighbour. This is also meaningless and vexation of spirit.”

A man may be doing a good work, some useful, profitable, meaningful task. Yet, he cannot escape the envy of his neighbour who seeks to disrupt his good work. As one writer puts it, Solomon “is talking about one-on-one rivalry – fighting and devouring, clawing and pushing at one another. He’s describing the outworking of carnal, savage-like selfishness….I have seen such a determined and aggressive competition between individuals…they fight against one another and, if necessary, assault each other!…It’s a maddening, vicious craze to outdo and outsell and outshine the other guy at any cost.”[1]

This is what the world is. Talk to anyone working in the world, he will tell you this is the case.

Such mentality must not be brought into the church. The church is not a place to show off our talent. The godly people are not watching for talent on our part but how closely we are walking with God, looking at our character. Not the outward result but how and why we are doing what we are doing.

The Apostle Paul told the church in Galatia for he sensed the members were not mortifying the flesh and allowing the flesh to cause havoc, disrupting the peace in the church in Galatians 5:13-16 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Serve one another (v13)

This word “serve” is a command to do continually. It means “to be a slave, to serve, to do service, to obey, submit to; in a good sense: absolutely, to yield obedience, to perform services of kindness and Christian love.” [Thayer Lexicon]

  • Love one another (v14)

Treat others like how you would like others to treat you.

  • Devour not one another (v15)

This describes the scheming heart to get gain by destroying the other person.

We have been given this freedom from the bondage of sin. Let us not abuse this freedom by allowing the flesh to manifest itself Gal. 5:19-21. We have cited for example,

  • Hatred – enmity, hostility
  • Variance – contention
  • Emulations – an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy
  • Wrath – anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again
  • Strife – intriguing for office, fractiousness (desire to put oneself forward)
  • Seditions – dissension, division
  • Heresies – dissensions arising from deviation from God’s Word
  • Envyings – promoted by envy

In the world, the unregenerate man has no power to overcome such sin of the heart. But for the man of God, we have been freed from the bondage of sin let us not let the old nature have reigned in our hearts.

– and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.

What is envy?

  • Envy is resenting the advantage of another, with a desire to possess the same advantage.
  • Envy is coveting what another has.
  • The Latin word for “envy” is invidere, which means “to look at with enmity.”[2]

 Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Is envy always wrong? Yes. Scripture never portrays envy in a positive light. God is never depicted as an envious God.

Our Lord was delivered up to be crucified because of envy.

Matthew 27:15-18 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

What Is Jealousy?

(1) Jealousy is resenting another’s rivalry or unfaithfulness, with a desire to guard or maintain what one possesses.

(2) Jealousy is possessiveness.

(3) The Greek word for “jealousy” is zeloo, which means “zealous or burning with jealousy.”

1 Samuel 18:6-9 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

 Is jealousy always wrong? No.

It is natural and normal for feelings of jealousy to surface when a meaningful covenant relationship is threatened by unfaithfulness.

Numbers 5:29-31 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled; 30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.

 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

 

The Difference between Envy and Jealousy:

 

Envy

(1) burning desire to have

(2) coveting what another has

(3) empty hands that crave to be filled

(4) usually involves two people

 

Jealousy

(1) burning desire to keep

(2) possessive of what one has

(3) full hands that fear being emptied

(4) usually involves three people[3]

 

Wrong Belief:

For Envy: “I have a right to have what others have because I need to feel more significant.”

For Jealousy: “I have a right to keep whatever I have to fulfill my need for significance.”

 

Right Belief:

I will trust God and choose to be content regardless of what I have or do not have.

He will fulfill my need for significance through His life lived within me.

Ferguson said well commenting on Joseph’s life, “The underlying premise of envy is man’s resistance to God’s sovereign will. God is sovereign and in His wisdom and providence gives to each what He deems best. Ultimately, envy is a forlorn attempt to dethrone God. This resentment against God and will lead to hatred of God. Envy too often serves as the motivation for evil acts as Joseph’s brothers “moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt” (Acts 7: 9). This resentment is that you feel you are denied something and is also directed against those who have what you want. Joseph had no control over his birth, his father’s partiality or his ultimate destiny.”[4]

 

(2) Not Idleness of Hand (v5)

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Looking at the oppressive and envious depravity of men, it is better not to engage in any work than to do so that get hurt as a result.

Bridges observed well, “The wise man looks from one scene to another – oppression – envy – now idleness. What a vast fertility of excuses does the great enemy suggest! In the business of daily life how many stumbling blocks does he put in the way…The fool does nothing because others do ill. And certainly no one has so little enjoyment of life, as he who is doing nothing in life. As Dr. Barrow asks, when rebuking his idle gentleman – ‘What title can he have to happiness? What capacity thereof? What reward can he claim? What comfort can he feel? To what temptations he is exposed! What guilt will he incur! Idleness indeed places a man out of God’s order. It should, therefore, have no place in God’s fair creation. Work is at once the substance and the privilege of our service. A thousand witnesses will rise up against the sluggard’s excuse – “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets. (Prov. 22:13).”[5]

 Solomon calls such man a “fool” for his foolish behaviour describing such persons who are unable to deal with life in a successful, practical way [Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament].

 This is definitely not a good response or reaction to the oppression and human contention.

 

(3) But Responsibility and Contentment (v6)

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

 Rather, Solomon tells us that place for godly contentment and responsibility where one works with his hands quietly than one who with “two fists clawing, scraping, striving, pushing, pulling their way to the top.”[6]

As Solomon said wisely observes in Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

 Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

In other words, as one writer puts it, “better is a little bowl of vegetable soup, served at a table where there’s a lot of love than a big, thick prime rib shoved in front of you by somebody who can’t stand having you around.”[7]

 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

 Do not be idle!

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

 Not doing profitable work but gossipping about one another.

12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

 Serve quietly, fulfil your responsibility not for any self-glory. Enjoy the fruit of your labour.

13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Carry on doing good for the sake of doing good, as the love of Christ constrains you.

14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Be warned that the Christian must rid himself of any worldly tendencies. Such who will be willing do his duty with contentment will find blessing and favour with God. This is Christian faithfulness.

 

CONCLUSION

Talking of envy and idleness leads us by God’s laws to contentment and responsibility. Amen.

  

[1] Charles Swindoll, Living on the Ragged Edge, W Publishing Group, 2004, 56.

[2] Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys – Envy & Jealousy: Taming the Terrible Twins.

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://oldfaith.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/josephbook1.pdf

[5] Charles Bridges, Ecclesiastes, Banner of Truth Trust, 1992, 84.

[6] Charles Swindoll, Living on the Ragged Edge, W Publishing Group, 2004, 105.

[7] Ibid.