(“... Not Green”)

I Corinthians 13:1-8a

(I Corinthians 13:4b)

(A) A BRIEF, GENERAL INTRODUCTION

(1) The devil was crossing a desert when he came upon several demons busily tormenting a man of God. However, this religious leader was shaking off all their evil suggestions. After watching his minions fail to drag the man down, the devil stepped forward and said, “Let me try” – whereupon he whispered in the cleric’s ear, “Your brother was just been made bishop of Alexandria.” Almost at once a scowl clouded the man’s face, and his whole demeanor changed. “That,” said the devil, “is how it’s done.”¹

(2) Jesus once said: “all men will know … you are My disciples, IF …” – “IF” what? – IF we’re all members of the same church? (No) – IF we all embrace every tenet of Reformed Theology? (No) – IF we only sing hymns during worship? (No) – IF we celebrate the Lord’s Supper at least once a month? (No) – IF we all home-school our children? (No) – IF we all attend two worship services on Sunday, and at least one bible study during the week? (No) – what He said, of course, was that, “all men will know … you are My disciples IF you have love for one another” (c.f. John 13:35).

Now I would like to see more people become members at Westminster, and throughout the PCA – and I firmly believe Reformed Theology best represents what the Bible teaches – and I do like many of the old hymns – and I’ve learned to appreciate celebrating the Lord’s Supper once a month – and I am glad my wife home-schooled our two children – and I do think attending two worship services on Sunday, and at least one bible study during the week will greatly enhance a person’s spiritual growth.

BUT, Jesus said having love for one another is what will best identify us as His disciples (c.f. John 13:34-35) – not these other things, regardless of how good they are – including those that are commanded in Scripture. In fact, First Corinthians chapter Thirteen says that unless we love one another, all the things I just mentioned, and many more we haven’t, will ultimately be worthless (c.f. I Corinthians 13:1-3).

(3) The definitions of love portrayed in contemporary music, literature, movies and television have little (if anything) in common with the kind of love found in Scripture. Indeed, mankind’s thoughts about love are often so anemic, erotic, or sentimental that we must constantly guard against letting those descriptions cloud our understanding of what biblical love is.

One way to do that is by becoming familiar with the primary Greek word for love used in the New Testament (“agape”), and comparing it with the three other words for love found in the Greek language of that time period (i.e. “eros”, “storge” and “phileo”) – which we’ve already done.

Another way is to do an intensive study of the basic characteristics of agape-love listed in First Corinthians chapter Thirteen (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4-8a) – which is what we are currently doing.

Some of these characteristics are positive, while others are negative. In other words, some of them tell us what agape-love IS – while others (like the one before us this morning) tell us what it is NOT. For example, we’ve already seen that, “(agape)-love IS patient (and) kind” – today we’re going to see that it is “NOT jealous” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a).

(B) LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS

(1) Some bible translations use the word “envy”, so that our text reads: “love does not envy” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a, NKJV and the NIV). Hence, we’re immediately faced with a question – are we dealing with “jealousy”, or “envy”? – or does it really matter?

(a) It probably doesn’t matter that much, since the meanings are similar. However, the two words are not identical – at least not in the Greek.

For one thing, the primary Greek word for “envy” (“phthonos”) is entirely different from the word translated “jealous” (“zeloo”) in our text.²

Furthermore, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says that even though jealousy and envy can both produce feelings of resentment or coveting, “jealousy usually wants what the other person has” – while “envy usually wants to deprive them of what they have.”²

(b) Let’s suppose someone we know buys a bright, new, red mustang convertible. Jealousy says, “I want one too!” Envy may also want one, but it’s more upset that the other person to has one – indeed, if envy had its way, they wouldn’t.³

Another way to put it might be to say that “jealousy” covets what someone else has – while “envy” resents the fact they have it.

Again, the difference is slight – and the two terms do seem to overlap – so it may not be worth trying to make a distinction between them.

It should be obvious that agape-love is not envious – that it does not resent what other people have, be it wealth, honor, or success – nor does it wish they didn’t have it.

However, the fact remains that the primary meaning of the Greek word in our text leans more toward “jealousy” than “envy” – so we’re going to address the idea that agape-love “is not jealous” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a) – and if we should happen to slip over into it “not being envious” some where along the way, we won’t get too concerned.

(2) The Greek word for “jealous” (“zeloo”) used in our text comes from a word (“zeo”) that means “to boil, or to be hot” – then to “be fervent”, or filled with “zeal” (“zelos”) – and finally, to “desire something intensively, earnestly, or eagerly” (“zeloo”).⁶

(a) Since the immediate context has to do with the use of spiritual gifts, its probably safe to say that some people in the Corinthian church were “jealous” of those brothers and sisters who had certain gifts – gifts that seemed to be more spectacular, like the gift of tongues (c.f. I Corinthians 12:10) (which appears to have been a particular problem in this church – c.f. I Corinthians 13:1; 14:2-19). Or, perhaps the issue was that some people were using their gifts to show off, or draw attention to themselves, thereby stirring up the fervent heat of “jealousy” in the hearts of those whose gifts were less visible, or whose gifts were thought to be of lesser value.

Chapter twelve makes it clear this was a problem in the Corinthian church, saying in at one point: 15“if the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:15-16).

You can hear the “jealousy” in those statements, can you not?! The foot is jealous because it’s not a hand – and the ear is jealous because it’s not an eye – a person with the gift of helps is jealous because they don’t have the gift of tongues – while a person with the gift of administrations is jealous of someone who has been given the gift prophecy – and so on and so forth (c.f. I Corinthians 12:28).

A few verses later, Paul continues, saying: 22“the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23and those … we deem less honorable, on these we (should) bestow more abundant honor, (so that) our less presentable members become … more presentable, 24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (c.f. I Corinthians 12:22-25).

This was clearly NOT happening in the Corinthian church – in part, because the people did not love each other with a love that is “not jealous” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a) – because they did not love each other with the kind of love that does everything it can NOT to provoke a brother or sister to the point where they “boil over” with “jealousy”.

(b) It should be noted that a person can be “jealous” in either a good or evil sense.

For example, the Book of Acts says of “Apollos”, an “eloquent” Jew who was “mighty in the Scriptures”, that, “this man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent (literally, “jealous” – i.e. “hot/zealous) (same word as used in our text) in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus …” (c.f. Acts 18:24-25). In other words, Apollos was a man who was passionate about His Savior – and preached with an intensity or zeal that reflected his “jealously” for Christ. Obviously, this was a good kind of jealousy.

On the other hand, as Stephen was giving his defense before the Jewish Council – and was summarizing how God dealt with Abraham and his descendants – when he came to Joseph, he said (in part) that, “the patriarchs became jealous (“zeloo” – same word used in our text)⁶ of Joseph and sold him into Egypt” (c.f. Acts 7:9). Obviously this is a negative example of jealousy – an example of being “hot, or zealous, or fervent” in the wrong way – in this instance, by coveting what Joseph had that they didn’t, namely, first place in their father’s affection.

(c) It should also be noted that “jealousy” is one of God’s attributes (obviously in a good sense). Hence, in explaining the second commandment, God said (in part): 4“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5You shall not worship them or serve them; (and here’s why) for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, (and I display my jealousy by) visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, (to) the third and … fourth generations of those who hate Me” (c.f. Exodus 20:4-5).

Later, God repeated a condensed version of the second commandment, saying: “you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (c.f. Exodus 34:14). In this instance, God not only claimed “jealousy” as an attribute – He also said “Jealous” is one of His names!

Not surprisingly, then, we’re told elsewhere that: “the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (c.f. Deuteronomy 4:24) – and again: “He is a holy God. He is a jealous God” (c.f. Joshua 25:19) – and once more: “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God” (c.f. Nahum 1:2a, NIV).

(d) And if we inquire as to why our God is a “Jealous” God, part of the answer lies in the fact that He is “hot”, He is “fervent”, He is “zealous” for things like – His holiness – the honor due Him on account of how great and magnificent He is – even for all those things that rightly belong to Him. Hence, He says: “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem” (c.f. Zechariah 1:14b) – and again: “I (am) jealous for My holy name” (c.f. Ezekiel 39:25b) – and again: “They have made Me jealous with what is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their idols” (c.f. Deuteronomy 32:21a) (i.e. God is jealous for the worship that rightly belongs to Him, and Him alone!) – and once more: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us” (c.f. James 4:5b) (which gives us another reason not to “grieve” or “quench” the Holy Spirit who comes to live inside us when we profess faith in Christ – c.f. Ephesians 4:30; I Thessalonians 5:19).

(e) God’s jealousy – like everything else about Him, and everything He does – (God’s jealousy) is “holy, and righteous and good” (c.f. Romans 7:12). The kind of “jealousy” in our text is not. The kind of “jealousy” which has no place in agape-love is quite the opposite. It is “hot”, to be sure – but it is the “heat” of resentment or sinful anger. It is “fervent”, to be sure – but it is a “fervency” motivated by a selfish desire to see another person fail. It is “zealous”, to be sure – but it’s the kind of “zeal” that thinks more highly of itself than others (c.f. Philippians 2:3-4).

In short, the jealousy spoken of in our text – the kind of jealousy that is NOT part of agape-love, is anything but Godly – anything but Christ-like.

(3) The kind of jealousy spoken of in our text (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4) is one of those human emotions that has been assigned a color.⁴

For example, when people are angry, we sometimes say they are seeing “red.” If someone is afraid, and acts in a cowardly manner, we say they are “yellow”. If someone is depressed or “down in the dumps” (so to speak), we say they are feeling “blue”.

Jealousy has been assigned the color “green” – as in, the green-eyed monster. I have no idea why green was chosen – but I have read that the phrase “green-eyed monster” comes from “Othello”, a play written by William Shakespeare.⁵

(4) One of the hardest battles any Christian fights in this fallen world is against jealousy.⁷

(a) That’s because there’s always someone who’s better than we are – someone who does what we do better than we do it – someone who has what we want – someone who is more successful in our field than we are.⁷

Hence, for example – I don’t usually get jealous when I met someone who’s a successful artist – or who can cook better than I can – or who has a bigger house than I have – in part, because these are either things I know I don’t do well, or things that just aren’t important to me. In other words, my own perceived sense of worth isn’t tied to being able to paint a beautiful picture, or cook a soufflé.

I tend to get jealous driving by Christ Community Church, and wondering why Pastor Brock has such a big congregation and I don’t – jealousy used to raise its ugly, green-eyed head every time my brother Randy got invited to preach at one of the camp meetings, and I didn’t – I tend to get jealous when I go to Presbytery and hear about all the wonderful things happening in other PCA churches that aren’t happening here.

(b) The toxic fumes of jealousy³ tend to “burn” more readily in our heart when someone close to us is better than we are – when someone like us succeeds, and we don’t – or when something important to us is involved – something that if lost or even diminished would threaten how we perceive ourselves, and/or how we think others perceive us. As one writer said: “The closer a situation comes to matching our own identity, the higher the stakes become, (the more we think we have to lose, and therefore) the more likely jealousy is to erupt.”⁸

(c) Jealousy is not some trivial harmless sin.⁹ On the contrary, Scripture is filled with examples that warn us of the kinds of disastrous effects jealousy can have on us, and on our personal relationships with each other.⁴

For example, Cain’s unchecked jealousy led him to murder his brother Abel (c.f. Genesis 4:1-8) – the burning jealousy of Joseph’s brothers caused them to sell him into slavery (c.f. Acts 7:9) – Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den because of the jealousy of his fellow government officials (c.f. Daniel 6:1-18) – jealousy was at the root of the older son’s resentment when his father welcomed his prodigal brother home (c.f. Luke 15:25-30) – it was out of envy and jealousy that some young preachers tried to outdo Paul and cause him additional “distress” while he languished in a Roman prison (c.f. Philippians 1:15-17) – it was jealousy that caused Saul to pursue David, hoping to catch him and kill him, because the people used to sing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (c.f. I Samuel 18:7-8) – and jealousy was one of the contributing factors to the division and strife within the church at Corinth, particularly when it came to the use of spiritual gifts.

The Book of Proverbs says: “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?” (c.f. Proverbs 27:4) – thereby indicating that jealousy’s fervent heat is as bad (if not actually worse) than that of anger!

The Book of James says: 14“if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (c.f. James 3:14-16). In other words, jealousy is the fuel of selfish ambition – indeed, jealousy of this type (and that found in our text) not only results in selfish behavior, it is motivated by a selfish heart – which is the opposite of agape-love, since one of the characteristics of agape-love is selfless sacrifice.

(d) Standing it stark contrast to the many examples of jealousy in Scripture, is the story of Jonathan’s love for David. As you may recall, David was not only a greater warrior and a more popular leader than Jonathan, he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel to become the next king of Israel rather than Jonathan, whom most people expected to inherit the throne from his father Saul.⁹

Humanly speaking, there was every reason for Jonathan to be jealous of David – to be heated and fervent in his dislike for David – to be zealous (as his father was) to try and keep David from becoming king in his place. And yet, we’re told of nothing but Jonathan’s great love and respect for his friend David – indeed, Scripture says: “he loved (David) as he loved his own life” (c.f. I Samuel 20:17b).⁹

(e) That’s what agape-love does – i.e. it loves others as itself (c.f. Matthew 22:39a). Hence, when it sees someone who is more popular, more successful, more beautiful, or more talented, it is “not jealous” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a) – on the contrary, it is glad for them.⁷ When a person practicing agape-love sees God raising someone up to take their place – in the church – at work – in the family – in a charitable organization – it rejoices in that person’s abilities, and/or the fact that the work will go on. When people filled with agape-love see someone in the same field succeed, they are glad for their success – even if it works against their own.⁹ To paraphrase John the Baptizer, agape-love is willing to decrease so someone else might increase (c.f. John 3:30).

(f) Finally, I don’t want to leave you with the wrong impression – i.e. the impression that we Christians can reach a point in this life where we no longer experience any more feelings of “jealousy” – that those who practice agape-love will never ever feel the fervent heat of jealousy’s flame in their heart.

It’s true that we shouldn’t – but as long as we live in a fallen world it’s going to happen. It’s true that one day we will no longer breath the toxic fumes of jealousy – but until the work of our sanctification is complete we will.

When we do, we should confess it for it is (namely, sin) – repent of it – and believe Christ’s promise regarding His forgiveness and cleansing from sin (c.f. I John 1:9).

Then, since agape-love is more a matter of choice than emotion, we should throw ourselves on Christ’s enabling grace (c.f. Hebrews 2:18; 4:16), choosing to rise above our petty jealousies (as it were), and rejoice in the other person’s success¹⁰ – or rejoice that God has chosen to give them something He hasn’t chosen to give us.

(g) If I may paraphrase two passages of Scripture by combining them – “agape-love rejoices with those who rejoice, without being jealous” (c.f. I Corinthians 13:4a; Romans 12:15a). May Christ enable us to love each other like that!