Walking With the Holy Spirit Seven Heavenly Virtues

Walking With the Holy Spirit – Seven Heavenly Virtues Study Schedule Session Date Deadly Sin Heavenly Virtue 1: Monday, February 15 Sloth Diligence 2: Monday, February 22 Gluttony Temperance 3: Monday, March 1 Anger Patience 4: Monday, March 8 Lust Purity 5: Monday, March 15 Greed Generosity 6: Monday, March 22 Envy Kindness 7: Monday, March 29 Pride Humility 1

Session Six – Holiness Through Kindness Scripture Focus for the Study: Rom. 12: 2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. ” Scripture for Session Six: Rom. 12: 10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to another. ” (For full context, read vv. 9 – 19) What is the “deadly sin” we’re dealing with here? • Envy: discontent with another’s advantages, success, possessions, status • Jealousy: resentment of another due to rivalry, success, or advantages • Covetousness: avariciousness, greed; “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s __________ Willimon “Envy may be the most vile as well as the most pervasive of the Seven” H. L. Mencken “Envy is making $10 a month more than your brother-in-law” David Long “Comparison is the lifeblood of envy” “Schadenfreude; ” Perverse delight in the failures and misfortunes of others 2

Old Testament Examples of Envy Satan envies God’s sovereignty Adam and Eve envy God’s authority Cain envies Abel’s devotion Sarai envies Hagar (and vice versa) for her fertility Jacob envies Esau (and vice versa) for his birthright Rachel envies Leah (and vice versa) for her fertility and intimacy with Jacob Joseph’s brothers envy Joseph for his privilege, his fancy coat Pharaoh envies Moses’ God for his “magic” The Philistines envy Samson for his superhuman strength Hannah envies Peninnah for her fertility (and supposed adoration of their husband, Elkanah) The Israelites envy all the other nations who have kings for their protection, leadership Saul envies David for all kinds of reasons, primarily David as a man after God’s own heart o “Saul has killed his thousands, David his tens of thousands” (jealousy) o “Saul’s heart became ruinously dominated by envy” David Long o Saul’s envy became paranoia; it destroyed Saul and all his family David envies Uriah for his sexy wife (covets Bathsheba) Absalom envies David for his fame, power, authority, and respect by the people Adonijah envies David for the same reason as Absalom; avaricious desire for kingship The Queen of Sheba envies Solomon for his wisdom and accomplishments Nebuchadnezzar envies Daniel for the power of his God and Daniel’s interpretation of dreams Jonah envies the Ninevites for being forgiven 3

New Testament Examples of Envy Herod envies the Magi for their vision of a “king of the Jews” Herod envies the unknown newborn child who is to be the “king of the Jews” The Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians all envy Jesus for every reason they could think of Herod Antipas envies Jesus for his popularity The people of Nazareth envy Jesus for assuming authority from God Jesus’ mother and brothers envy the disciples for Jesus’ attention to them (and other followers) The disciples envy each other for wanting to be #1 (the righthand seat in Jesus’ kingdom) The rich young ruler envies Jesus for having the key to eternal life The vineyard workers (Matt. 20) envy those hired last for being given the same wage The people of Jericho envy Zacchaeus for having been favored by Jesus The chief priests envy Jesus for his miracles (raising of Lazarus), but mainly for his authority Martha envies Mary for her sloth and for Jesus’ response to Martha’s rebuke Judas Iscariot envies Jesus for his popularity Pilate envies Jesus for his steadfastness Nicodemus envies Jesus for his spiritual wisdom Satan envies Jesus for his sovereignty The elder son envies his younger “prodigal” brother for his extravagant living The Samaritan woman at the well envies Jesus for his knowledge of everything about her Peter envies “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21) Ananias and Saphira envy Barnabas and others for their generosity (Acts 5) 4

What is kindness? It is not just the absence of • Malice, jealousy, or hatred • Delight in other’s misfortune • Comparison, discontentment, or resentment • Greed, self loathing, or dissatisfaction with what one has/lacks • Lack of trust in God Kindness is the presence of • Brotherly love (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) • Beneficent action; (“Cast your bread upon the water. . ” Eccl. 11: 1 -2) • True concern for the welfare of the other • Having “heavenly grace and true love in your heart” (Thomas A’ Kempis) • Confidence in one’s ability to deny self • Trust and confidence that God will provide for your needs • Fulfillment found in God alone • Self worth founded on being a bearer of the image of God 5

Wisdom from Chip Gaines: “On Kindness” (Devotions Daily, March 15, 2021) • Kindness never returns void; pay it forward • Belief in human kindness; looking for the best in others • Giving the other the benefit of the doubt; what’s going on in their life? • True power for kindness is not in the “me, ” it is in the “we” • Making kindness louder; “love out loud” • Equal concern for a loved one, for a stranger on the street, or for one I might otherwise envy • Willingness to sacrifice, to deal with discomfort • Restoration; we’re ALL (not just Jesus) in the business of restoration Examples of kindness from the Bible • Joseph refusing to cast out Mary, his pregnant fiancé • “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10: 30 -37) • Jesus • Leaving the throne of God to come to us • His entire ministry; compassion, mercy, kindness, love • Suffering humiliation, torture, and death on the cross for us 6

Consider: Can envy be a good thing? • Ex. 20: 5 “. . . for I am a jealous God. ” God cannot sin, therefore this kind of jealousy is not sin. • Ex. 34: 14 “. . . for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” • Remember “Gluttony for Righteousness and Holiness” from session 2 • It would be well for us to have the same desire for envy; to envy perfect holiness • Where do we find such perfect virtue? Only in Christ, Himself • Aristotle; admiration for or imitation of another’s virtues is virtue in/of itself Barbara Brown Taylor: Holy Envy • Look to the virtues we’ve addressed; diligence, temperance, patience, purity, generosity, kindness, and we’ll conclude next week with humility • The point is to value and envy holiness where we find it, not being prideful by thinking these virtues are the exclusive possessions of Christians • Where do we see these virtues? Are they exclusive to Christians? • They are divine virtues that are valued by God; could they also be valued by Allah, Vishnu, Buddha? • We naturally look to others, whom we see as those closest to Christ; the most virtuous, most holy 7

Scripture references for envy and kindness • 1 Cor. 13: 4 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy. . ” • Eph. 4: 32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another. . ” • Col. 3: 12 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, . . . Compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness. . ” • Rom. 12: 10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ” • Mic. 6: 8 What does the Lord require of you; to love justice, be kind, walk humbly with God” • Prov. 14: 30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. ” • Mark 7: 21 -22 “evil thoughts. . . adultery, greed, malice. . . envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. ” • Titus 3: 3 “We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ” • 1 Pet. 3: 8 “. . . have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ” • Gal 5: 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. . ” • Rom. 11: 22 “Consider the kindness of God. . . provided that you continue in his kindness. ” • Matt. 5: 5 “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. ” • Matt. 5: 7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ” • James 2: 13 “Mercy triumphs over judgment. ” • Matt. 9: 13 “[God desires] mercy, not sacrifice. ” 8