Gilligan’s Island and the Seven Deadly Sins
Section Title: “Mary Ann”
Lesson Title: “Green with Envy – and Blue about it”
Biblical Principle: Envy
The Moral of the Story: This study examines how envy is sinful because, like other sins, it is an insatiable desire that puts the world before the Lord. The lesson also addresses how contentment comes when you ask God to give you strength to overcome envious desires. The point of this study is that continuous contentment rests in your ability to maintain God’s priorities, God’s perspective and God as your source of fulfillment.
Why is it that we always envy the lives of the rich and famous, yet we rarely envy the lives of the very holy? Sadly, to often what we envy is evil – the products of other sins such as greed, lust and pride. Envy corrupts our happiness for our own good into the desire to deny others of their good. Thus, it gives us pleasure at seeing others made low. Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Watch Video Lesson #6
If envy is the sickness, contentment is the cure. But how do we become content.
James 3:14-15 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. Envy inspires conflict, whereas Godly wisdom leads to peace. This is how the Lord delivers us from envy: he provides the contentment we seek. Consider how Cindy handles her envy.
Envy is concerned with its own wants – not another’s needs. This self centeredness stunts the spiritual growth of envious people. In this state, they are easily controlled by their own desires, rather than having authority over those urges. Our goal should be to match our desires with God’s desires.
James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace loving considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
REFLECTION / YOUR INNER GILLIGAN
Proverbs 23:17 “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
To envy evil is to literally sin over another’s sin. This happens because the sin of envy leads you to idolize the sin of others. To break that cycle, you must idolize the ways of God. Those that seem to succeed while ignoring what God wants have a short term gain and a very long term loss. They cash in here for a miniscule amount of what they could have received in heaven. Even worse, what they ultimately get for their money or fame or status is eternal punishment. Lest you forget, there is a reason to fear the Lord. Seen in this light, sinners truly have nothing to envy.
Mary Ann went from envious to envied – something she surely never expected!
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
You should redirect any admiration of your accomplishments toward God. And at the same time, God must be the only one you look to for approval. When you do this, you will not need the approval of anyone else.
Both Mary Ann and Cindy needed help to find contentment.
Philippians 4:11 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
If you find yourself struggling with envy, ask God to strengthen you to overcome those desires. He will teach you contentment as you learn that he will take care of your needs – according to what he knows is best for you. Contentment comes when you rely on the Lord’s promises.
You envy out of dissatisfaction and faithlessness.
Hebrews 13:5 be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you”
Yet you envy because you feel empty. Your longing for possessions is really an attempt to fill a vacant place in your life. To fill this hole, rather than focusing on what you don’t have, you should concentrate on what you could do for God. Make your priorities mirror his priorities. Then you will see life from the Lord’s perspective. Continuous contentment rests in your ability to maintain God’s priorities, God’s perspective and God as your source of fulfillment.
Why should you not be envious? How can you stop being envious? How can you have contentment?
This Week
Next Sunday (2/24): Lesson will focus on the seven Heavenly Virtues.
In Two weeks (3/2): We will begin the study of the Fruits of the Sprit.