Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Introduction

Good morning. When you think about all that we could be doing, what a blessing to have a God who showed, has shown us, has taught us, and clearly revealed his word to us that we may know how to praise and glorify God. When you think about all the ways that you can live, there are many things that some people try to do to gain happiness, to gain joy, peace. But the truth is there is only one way to that peace. Certainly Jesus says in John 14 and verse 6, He is the only way to the Father. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me, except through Jesus. But in the way, as we’re trying to get to God, as perhaps we are finding Jesus, we find ourselves continually stuck in this world that in many ways and in many times have turned their backs on the Jesus whom we need to desperately cling to.

In fact, there’s a lot of things that can distract us. And this morning I want to focus on one. I want to focus on the distraction, the plague that is self-comparison. In Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 30, the Proverbs writer says, A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. You know, what’s interesting about comparison, about envy, about jealousy is there is nobody who is not at one point in time affected by this plague. Perhaps the funny example is given online, you’ll see three categories. There are things we all in this life enjoy energy, time, and ability. When you think about this time, when you think about the ability to do things like with money, and you think about energy, it’s very hard to have all three at one time.

The story goes that the teenager, the young adult, has both time and energy, but not the sufficient ability, not the sufficient money. Of course, in middle age, you have the ability, you have the money, and you have the energy, but not the time to enjoy it. And of course, in older age, it’s said that there is less energy, whereas you do have the ability. Of course, at all points in our life, there is always going to be something that is difficult, something that is hard. And the truth is the most difficult battle in life is the one you’re facing right now. Isn’t it? How many times do we think this is the worst it’s going to get, and then five to ten years down the line, you see, this is much more substantial, this is much more difficult.

But in the moment in the time, that is little help. It is little comfort. Because we’re focused on how do we get past this moment. In the Old Testament, there was a character named Saul. There was a king of Israel who was characterized by his jealousy. His jealousy of King David, if you’ll look in 1 Samuel chapter 18, when you think about historical King Saul, he was a successful king on some fronts. He won some battles. At one point he was chosen by God, you might say, by his height, by his handsome appearance, and he led God’s people as the king, the first king of the United Kingdom. Of course, in 1 Samuel chapter 17, perhaps a passage we’re more familiar with, Saul meets this person named David.

This individual named David in 1 Samuel chapter 17 is most renowned for his conquering of Goliath. And as David, this youth has gone up against Goliath and defeated him, no doubt on the strength of God’s mercy and God’s benefit and blessing. In 1 Samuel chapter 18, Saul begins to learn more about David. And as he’s talking with David after this great victory, this great conquest over the great Philistine warrior Goliath. Here is how the story goes. And in verse 1, as soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the whole soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. As they were coming home when David returned from striking down the Philistines, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with songs of joy, with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they elaborate as they celebrated. Saul struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him.

He said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands. And what more can he have but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day on.

The idea that Saul would eye David, it was on what preliminary context that David had this great renown in the kingdom of Israel. In fact, what was said about him that David had slayed in verse 7 and 8 his ten thousands. Whereas the great King Saul had only slain thousands. This did not sit well with Saul. In fact, in verse 9, this is the turning point in the chapter, and perhaps you might say, in the story of Saul and David together, that Saul eyed David from that day on. Theodore Roosevelt is attributed the saying, Comparison is the thief of joy. Perhaps we can see that easily in 1 Samuel chapter 18, where you’d see with Saul, how easy would it be to be happy that David, in his kingdom, under his kingship, would have defeated the great Goliath, the great Philistine warrior.

And that David, when any time Saul would command to go out with the men of war, would be successful time after time, as we saw already that David was. But no, Saul couldn’t celebrate with his people who came to him in verses six and seven. He couldn’t be happy for David, who had killed his ten thousands. He couldn’t even be happy for himself in the fact that he was noted by the people for his victory, for his slaying of thousands. Saul’s joy was robbed by his jealousy and his envy of David. I think if we understand Saul’s descent into jealousy, you see the great depths to which it will drag us down. I want to focus first on Saul and then make a bit of a broader application.

1. Saul’s Descent Into Jealousy

We already see the seeds being planted in verses one through nine. You see the beginning in verse one and two, what got Saul’s attention. Yes, the victory in chapter 17 of David over Goliath, but then who came to love David? Who came to appreciate, admire, and be one with David, you might say? None other than Jonathan, the very son of Saul. In verse one, as soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, and the response is swift in verse 2. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Of course, as you study Old Testament history, you see the impact of Jonathan’s friendship with David.

In fact, how it’s going to conclude even moving forward into chapter 19, with Saul seeking the life of David because of his jealousy, and Jonathan would be there to help his friend, the one that he is said to be of knitted soul with. Saul was upset over Jonathan, perhaps, admiration of him. But then in verse 6, 7 and 8, you see it’s not only Jonathan who had gained it who had been gained gaining David’s favor, but the people had, in verse 6, as they were coming home when David returned from striking down the Philistine. The women came out of all the cities of Israel. And yet it’s interesting within verse 6, even whom they came to meet. Yes, they were singing, they were rejoicing, because this was a great national victory.

And they were there to meet King Saul. But their message was one that Saul once again faced envy and jealousy from. That Saul struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands. He just could not deal with the fact that David was viewed in the eyes of his people, in the eyes of his son, and in the eyes of true black and white history, that David was more successful than he was. It’s important to note that David’s success did not mean that Saul was unsuccessful. But Saul took it that way. And as a result of that, the seeds of jealousy were planted, and of course the fruits came to spring forth. In verse 10, beginning.

Twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand, and he went out and came in before his people, and David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. Critical point to see in verse 14. And verse 15, and when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful all of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. Then Saul said to David, Here is my elder daughter, daughter Merib. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul thought, Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.

And David said to Saul, Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king. But at the time when Marib Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Mahelite for a wife. Now Saul’s daughter Michael loved David. And they told Saul and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, You shall now be my son in law. And Saul commanded his servants, speak to David in private and say, Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you.

Now then become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul’s servant spoke those words in the ears of David, and David said, Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law? Since I am poor a poor man and have no reputation? And the servants of Saul told him, Thus and so did David speak. Then Saul said, Thus you shall say to David, the king desires no bride price, except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went along with his men and killed two hundred of the Philistines.

And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michael for a wife. And when you think about this story, you think about Saul’s jealousy over David being more successful in military conquest, having defeated Goliath, and certainly having the appreciation of Jonathan, his son, of his servants, and of all the people of Israel. In fact, in the reading we just had, Saul, excuse me, David was known for what? Admiration of all the people in Israel and Judah. Because they saw him go in and go out. They knew something was special about David. And at the end of verse 14, it was his success. And his success was predicated upon what?

The Lord being with him. You see, in fact, that was something that Saul noted very quickly. Saul knew there was something different about David. It wasn’t just his success. Saul knew what was different about David was that David had the Lord on his side. In verse 10, the next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he was raved within his house. And in verse 12, we see after David evaded him twice, Saul was afraid because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. Once Saul was in the mindset of jealousy, once he was caught up in the high of jealousy, he had no joy. He had no peace. He saw only opportunity to become more enraged, more of a madman, trying desperately to kill David.

And when he missed with his spear, trying to pin him to the wall, he had devised a plan. I’m going to let the Philistines take care of David. And in three separate ways, Saul tried to make the story of the Philistines come true, that they would take out David, the beloved Israelite hero, the one that Jonathan loved, the one whom his daughters would grow to love. And yet David the whole time, in a humble disposition, noted, this is a big thing to be considered the son-in-law to the king. David considered above his place, saying, I am not from anything, I am of no title of repute. But David knew where his victory was found. It was found in the Lord. You see, the difference in the two men is at that exact point.

2. The Bottoming Out Point

David’s strength and victory was in God. Saul’s strength and victory was in trying to put down the man of whom he had grown ravishly jealous and envious of. Consider thirdly, the bottoming out point. In verse 28, after David has met his marital demands, after he not only met them but doubled them, you might say, he satisfied the king’s requirement of the Philistine foreskins in verse 28. But when Saul when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that my cow, Saul’s daughter, loved him. Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Israel, so that his name was highly esteemed.

You see the problem Saul had.

Two points only. David was in the power of God. God was on David’s side. And the second point is let me be clear David’s success was Saul’s success. Quite literally, every victory that David won was on behalf of the Israelites, the Israelite people of whom Saul was king. Those important two points are so critical to remember that God gave David victory, and that David’s victory should have been and was truly Saul’s victory. But Saul’s warped perspective. His descent into jealousy changed that mindset to the fact that in verse 19 we see the bottoming out and we see the high cost of jealousy, with Saul going to extreme links. But consider in chapter 19, just to see this. And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David.

But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David, and Jonathan told David, Saul, my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything, I will tell you. And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul’s father and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. Jonathan’s making the very point to Saul. Please don’t do this. Do not sin against David. And remember, David is doing good for you.

Of course, that high cost of jealousy came in chapter 28 of 1 Samuel. Join me in 1 Samuel chapter 28, when Saul has descended to these links of approaching a spiritist, you might say, and Samuel is summoned. You see what he finds out as Saul has tried to hide himself, but he is revealed when Samuel comes, he is disguising himself in verse 8 of this chapter. But note in verse 15, Samuel’s message to Saul, why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? Saul answered, I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.

And in verse 16, and Samuel said, Why then do you ask me? Since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy. The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing against you to this day. Saul had lost the Lord’s favor. And rather than turning, rather than repenting, how many times in the life of King Saul did he devil down on his wickedness? Did he double down on his rejection of God, whether it was by making excuses or by saving those that God had said not to spare?

Saul continually turned against God, and yet David, the one of whom he was jealous, was successful because of who? Because of God. Because of David’s heart and his faithfulness to God, David was successful. And Saul grew to hate that. He grew to envy David. He grew extraordinarily jealous of David to the point that he lost control of his life. He broke what his son Jonathan tried to warn him against, of trying to sin against David by killing him. And Saul’s life lived out not at all the way a king should, not at all the way a child of God should, but rather one marks by leaving God, leaving everything, leaving a kingdom, and dying apart from the Lord. Consider the cost of jealousy is high for us today.

3. One of Those Costs Is Ungratefulness

One of those costs is ungratefulness. And of course, the plagues of ungratefulness is what makes it worse for us. When we think about jealousy in our life, we don’t have someone like a David necessarily. We don’t have someone as king who makes us jealous and worried that he’s going to take our throne, that the hearts of the people will leave us. But there are times that we are worried. We think somebody’s getting undue attention. Somebody has undue wealth. Someone has an unfit application. They have unfit ability for their life. Have I ever once thought like that? In First Thessalonians chapter 5, consider the words of Paul. Certainly we know verse 17 is pray without ceasing. But if you know what is immediately followed up by that in verse 17, or excuse me, in verse 18 is give thanks in all circumstances.

For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in you. Give thanks in all circumstances. What does that have to do with jealousy? The problem with jealousy, the problem with envy is when we look at somebody else or something else, and we say, I should have that. Or perhaps simply, I don’t want them to have that. That is not giving thanks for our situation in life. Well, see, the cost of jealousy is not only that we are separated from God, but that this life will be much more untolable. It will be much more unbearable. Saul’s life descended into a loot that of a lunatic. He spent his life trying to kill David rather than enjoying the blessings that God had allowed him as king of Israel.

And we will miss out on this life too. We will miss out on the peace that God offers if we’re caught up in the sin of comparing ourselves and of being ungrateful and unthankful. In fact, in Galatians chapter 5, you’ll see just how serious this sin is. In Galatians chapter 5, perhaps it’s striking to find what Paul says are works of the flesh, these works of the flesh that we think of as a who’s who list of what to avoid as Christians. In verse 19, now the works of the flesh are evident sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these, I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Being envious, being jealous is a sin. And as such, if we practice those, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. That alone is a problem. But consider the rest of the verses in verse 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. But see verse 25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. While envy and jealousy stand as sins in their own right, they cause other problems as well. We’re going to see as we unravel the fruits of jealousy, the high cost that it brings to our life, which is not all that different from the high cost it brought to Saul’s life.

But one of them is an ungrateful heart. Because if I’m thankful, if I’m at peace, then I’m not worried about what something somebody else has. And let’s be real frank as Christians. If I understand the peace that God offers me in me alone as a child of His, and He offers Christians who obey His will, I care nothing about this life because I care only about what God has offered. Nothing else matters. If Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and my eternal security and salvation is made sure by the resurrected Savior, what do I care about the stuff or the ability that other people have? The truth is I wouldn’t. Paul was consistently in perhaps what we might call some of the worst of circumstances: being beaten, being in jail, being in all kinds of shipwreck and problems, being run out of cities, snuck out of cities, and yet Paul never once said, I just wish I had this peace.

I wish we had religious liberty. Certainly Paul could have made the most of it. But that was never his cry. Paul lived to serve Christ. Paul lived to teach the blessings of Christ. We need to be grateful not only for our salvation, though, but also in what God has blessed us with. Just like with the opening illustration, when you think of time and ability and energy, there are things that we do have, and rather lamenting the one thing in our life that’s not going well, or maybe the few things that aren’t going well, think about what is.

That we have the health to get here. Consider how many people, how many elderly saints would give everything they have to be able to be here, to be able to worship with God’s people. But they can’t because they don’t have the health at that moment. Or they’re recovering, or they’re recuperating. It makes me think about if I’m not going to devote myself wholly to being here, to being a part of God’s people. Would Paul do that? Certainly, Jesus would be among his people. Jesus is among his people when we come to him and we worship in spirit and in truth. We need to be careful that a cost of jealousy is not only the sin in and of itself, which will deprive us of being with our God, but the high cost, including ungratefulness.

4. The Biggest Marker of Jealousy Is Pride

Perhaps the biggest marker of jealousy, though, is pride. In Luke chapter 18, consider the startling account. I hope you’ll turn to Luke chapter 18. We’re going to reference this as we conclude the lesson in a couple points. In Luke chapter 18 and verse 9, consider this parable that Jesus tells. He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves and they were righteous and treated others with contempt. Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee standing by himself prayed, Thus God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collect tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.

But the tax collector standing far off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. You see, the biggest problem with discontentment, with ungratefulness, with jealousy and envy, is it comes from a place of I deserve better. In this country, there’s two main markers of pride. There is the first that I deserve better, or that it is my rights, my ability, I deserve this, I should have that. I wonder if we took on the philosophy of Jesus that my life is totally given over to God, how much we would be concerned with our rights and our liberties.

We should be thankful for them. But consider it’s not only about what we deserve or what I think my rights are, but pride is rooted in the self-righteousness that comes from comparing ourselves to others. You want to have somebody else’s life? Think about all that comes with it. But more importantly, to the text of Luke chapter 18, if we want to look on other people for our standard, we are going to find ourselves humbled by God rather than in the meantime when we should turn our hearts to Him willingly. You see in Luke chapter 18, in this terrible picture of a parable in verse 11, here’s the Pharisee saying, God, I thank you that I am not like these other men, these extortioners, the adulterers. Look at what I do, God in verse 12.

I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get. I am good. I am great. You don’t believe me? Look at what those other people aren’t doing. That is pride. And we see that so clearly in this parable that Jesus gives. But consider as it comes to jealousy and envy, when we look at somebody else, we don’t answer for somebody else. I answer for me. My happiness is determined by my relationship with God. God offers peace. God offers happiness in terms of contentment. My glory needs to be with God. And if I have a relationship with God, I need to be prideful and boast only as in the Lord, not in my things, not in my ability, not in my time or energy.

I need to be thankful for what I have, certainly. But I need to not be so egotistical that I compare myself in every way over things that don’t matter or things that do, like that of spiritual goals. Our pride will keep us from being with God. And it’s not just the worst of sinners who do this, it’s not just the Pharisees. In Matthew chapter 18 and verses 1 through 4, who is it that’s struggling with who is going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Who is that? The disciples of Jesus. In Matthew chapter 18, Jesus humbled them. In verse 1, after they ask him, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? His response in verse 3 is truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

5. It Hinders Our Love

The high cost of jealousy is it elevates self at the expense of another. And another cost of that is it hinders our love that we are once again commanded to have for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And frankly, the world at large. In Romans chapter 12, consider the attitude of a Christian, relative to that of one who is ungrateful, who is envious, who is jealous of others and what they have and what successes they do or do not have in this life. But in Romans chapter 12, note the picture of love that’s given by Paul. As you consider Romans chapter 12, and as we’re trying to live this transformed life, what does it look like? What does it seem like in practice? In verse 10, love one another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you and bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. What is it that Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 4? Love does not envy. What is love? Love is seeking others’ benefit, others glory, others elevation. You see, the opposite of pride is selflessness, a willingness to put somebody else up on the pedestal that the proud themselves like to occupy.

When we think about Romans chapter 12, though, and we see in verse 15 very clearly, we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. We will not be rejoicing with those who deserve to rejoice if we’re focused on what we don’t have or how they don’t deserve what they are rejoicing in. That is not a Christian spirit. The Bible is so clear on this message, and yet we struggle so heartily with it. In verse 10, consider how do we turn this around? How do we be different in verse 10? Love one another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor. How about we focus on someone else and lifting them up rather than trying to pull them down to our level or lifting ourselves up to theirs.

Let’s focus on others. And that’s really hard. See, the truth about the cost of jealousy is no one wants to pay the price. No one wants to be an ungrateful person. No one wants to be a proud, arrogant man like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable. No one wants to have their love hindered. Everyone wants to practice perfect love and rejoice with those who rejoice. But you think that’s just not at my point yet. I don’t have all that I can have. When I get the job, when I get the time, when I have the energy, that’s when I’ll show love. That’s when I’ll do what I can. But Jesus says, no. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We are to love one another, showing honor, giving preference to others.

Perhaps the most practical lesson and takeaway of this is not only recognizing envy and jealousy as the sin that it is, how it will ruin our lives like it ruins Saul’s life, but that the only way to combat that is to proactively focus on others’ good rather than self. I wonder what our life would be like if we spent every day seeking to tell every person we ran across, or every tenth person that we ran across a compliment, something we appreciate about them. If we lifted them up the way that we so desire personally to be lifted up. Hasn’t a kind word or a compliment ever made your day? Changed your outlook? Changed what could have been a bad day into a pleasant one? As Christians, we should be looking for opportunities to rejoice with those who rejoice.

6. The Highest Cost: Using the Wrong Standard

We should be looking for opportunity to show honor and love to others. And that is a mindset that is a 180 from how I deserve what I get and others don’t deserve what they have. We need to be focused on not paying the cost of jealousy, but rather showing true unadulterated love. And perhaps the biggest problem, as we already spoke of in Luke chapter 18, as we draw this lesson to a close, the highest cost of jealousy is it proves we’re using the wrong standard. When you think in Luke chapter 18, I’d invite you to turn back there with me quickly. In Luke chapter 18, as we move to conclude the lesson, consider the biggest spiritual problem with this Pharisee was not exactly pride, although certainly he was characterized by it.

It was not exactly that he was wrong. I’m sure he did fast twice a week. I’m sure that he did give tithes, although you could perhaps doubt those. But even if we gave him the benefit of the doubt. And verse 11, as he says, God, I thank you that I am not like other men. Two problems. Who does he name? Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector. First of all, hey, I haven’t blow among the people he was comparing of a hundred people. It’s pretty easy to say, I haven’t cheated on my wife ten, twenty, thirty times. I haven’t been in eight marriages. I haven’t stolen. I haven’t lied. It’s easy to say what we haven’t done. It’s easy to point to other people and say, I’ve never done that.

I would never be tempted by that. It’s easy to say I’ve never taken a drink, I’ve never smoked a cigarette. I don’t have those problems. But why don’t we compare ourselves to good examples? Where’s the comparison to a holy man? Where’s the comparison to someone who had turned to God? But most of all the problem is what we already read. He says, I thank you that I am not like other men when Jesus calls us not to be like other men, but to follow in his footsteps. Our target, our standard is singular and is to be holy as God is holy. It’s easy to look at other people and to say, I’m better than that. But the truth is when we look at Jesus, we know that he is better than that.

And we’re to be like Jesus. There is consistent, constant work in serving God. And it’s powerful. And it’s a strong warning in verse 14. That everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. The ones who humble themselves are submitting to the standard of Christ. Those who do not will be humbled by Christ at the day of judgment. How powerful. What a warning to me and to all of us to consider am I living to be like Jesus? Or am I trying to be just like or better than everybody else? The Christian standard is clear. Saul had a choice. He could have submitted to God. He could have carried out God’s plan in battle against the Amalekites. He could have turned to God.

Conclusion

He could have been thankful for David. And again, let me conclude with the two most important points this morning. Envy and jealousy are a sin that separate us from God. The very God who gave David victory after victory. Because David was devoted to him. But secondly, and most importantly, others’ success does not take away our relationship with God. And that is the only victory that matters. We need to realize that as Christians we are to be better than the world. But that means in our conduct, adhering to the will of Christ, to the example of Christ who live perfectly, flawlessly, and in devotion to God’s will. Do we live like Christ? Not always. But praise be to him that as Christians we can pray. We can confess our sins, and God is faithful and just to forgive us.

What a blessing to be able to have forgiveness. As you consider this morning, if you’re in the right state with God, and consider that that is all that matters. Know that God’s word is clear to us. We’re not to be jealous, but to be thankful for what God has done. We’re not to be prideful, but boast in the crucifixion of Jesus. Be a part of his crucifixion. Be a part of his resurrection. Put to death the old man of sin. Rise again to be a new man, forgiven of sin, a servant of righteousness. We can help you this morning. Perhaps you’re a Christian, you’ve struggled with these thoughts, or many others that can pull us away from our God. Know that it can be made right.

You can ask for forgiveness, and God will forgive. What a mighty God we serve. Don’t leave this building in any doubt this morning. Make things right with God. Let’s all work together, rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep. Let’s be Christians. Let’s be with God. If we can help you in any way, come forward now as we stand and sing the invitation song.