Where there is ENVY and STRIFE….

STRIFE IS A DESTROYER:

Satan knows that envy and strife destroy relationships and long-term friendships. He knows if he can create envy and strife between you and the ones you love, he can ruin those special relationships that God intended to be a blessing in your life. Do you have any relationships in your life right now that are under this kind of demonic attack?

The devil doesn’t just target relationships or friendships with this type of assault. He also knows how to get in between you and your church family, a ministry you love and support, or even the place of business where you work. The enemy doesn’t care whom he divides – as long as division is the result!

Since envy and strife are some of the tools he uses to do this, I believe it’s crucial you understand how to recognize envy and strife and how to have victory of them!

FIRST, LET’S DEAL WITH ENVY:

In James 3:16, the Bible says:

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Notice the word ‘envy’ in this verse. It is taken from the Greek word ‘zeros’, which means a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else.

This word ‘zeros’ is where we get the word ‘zealot’, which describes a person who is so captivated, obsessed, and fanatical about his own cause that others perceive him as an extremist on the threshold of becoming militant.

In the case of James 3:16, this word presents a picture of a believer who is so obsessed, gripped, and preoccupied with his own view of things that he can’t see or hear the view of anyone else. In fact, his militant perspective has made him lopsided in his thinking. He never takes a softer line but holds out until all the other parties admit defeat and agree with his point of view.

Therefore, the word envy in James 3:16 could be translated this way……

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the elimination of everyone else…. ”

If this kind of attitude continues, it will naturally lead to the next step in this horrible sequence of events. This is where strife comes into the picture! Notice that James goes on to say, “For where envying AND strife is….”

ABOUT STRIFE:

The word ‘strife’ is taken from the Greek word ‘eritheii’ – It was used by the ancient Greeks to stand for a ‘political party’.

This Greek word is often translated as a ‘party spirit’ because of its association to political systems or parties. Therefore, in order for us to understand why James used this word, we need to stop and think about the way political parties are formed and how they function.

Political parties are formed by a group of people who have similar values and views. The same way with believers, however, SOME Christians become so clouded by their ambition to see their own views adopted that they have no tolerance for anyone who sees things differently than they do and are unwilling to believe that the holy spirit can reveal his truth to others too.  These people usually gravitate to other believers who hold similar views.

Once these so-called “like–minded” Christians find each other, they naturally begin to take sides, forming a kind of allegiance. Then they begin to form agendas and develop plans to see their views pushed, promoted, and accepted. As a result, people who once stood shoulder to shoulder often end up standing on different sides of a fight with their relationships ruined and filled with hurt.

When envy and strife have made it this far, the next step in this sequence of events is inevitable. James 3:16 continues; “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion”! According to the word of God, confusion WILL COME ON THE SCENE.

HERE COMES THE CONFUSION:

The word ‘confusion’ is taken from the word ‘akatastasia’. It was used in New Testament times to describe civil disobedience, disorder, and anarchy in a city, state, or government.

By using this word, James explicitly tells us that when situations of strife and discord are allowed to persist, an atmosphere of anarchy sets in that begins to destroy relationships once loved and cherished. Rational thinking is replaced by raw emotions, and people end up getting hurt.

James wanted to make sure we understood what this kind of conduct eventually produces if this behavior isn’t stopped. He goes on to say, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

EVIL REARS IT’S UGLY HEAD:

The word ‘evil’ is from the word ‘phaulos’ describing something that is terribly bad or exceedingly vile. We get the word ‘foul’ from this Greek word. James is saying that where envy and strife are permitted to operate, thus producing confusion and anarchy in relationships, they ultimately yield a foul-smelling situation or as I like to call it “A Hot Mess!”

These various Greek words in James 3:16 convey this idea in simple fashion:

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else, it produces divisions so great that people end up taking sides and forming differing parties with conflicting agendas. This is a terrible event, because it creates great unrest among people who should be united in Christ. Ultimately, the whole situation becomes a HOT mess!”

Don’t allow yourself to operate in this.  As a matter of fact Galatians chapter 5 describes envy, strife, confusion, and evil works as lusts of the flesh and promises that anyone who operates this way will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Look closely at Galatians 5:  “The lusts of the flesh are these:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Again,  in the book of Galations chapter 5 it is also written:  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the lusts of the flesh.   In the context of this blog, this scripture can be conveyed this way:

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified envy, strife, confusion and every evil work….”

This is because servants of Christ practice walking in the spirit not after the flesh – and these are the characteristics of walking in the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.  Paul reminds us in this same passage of scripture to not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

IN CONCLUSION:

Don’t Let Envy and Strife rise up and fill your environment with confusion and every evil work.  Don’t let it overtake your heart.   See your brothers and sisters like Christ sees them.  Love, support and encourage one another.  A servant’s walk is filled with trials, afflictions, etc.  We don’t need to constantly be at one another, but rather praying for and loving each other.  As servants, we should aspire to work together to glorify God, not dis-credit each other.

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