Lesson 14: THREAT TO CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: ENVY AND JEALOUSY

TEXT: Genesis 37:1-11

AIMS:

1. To teach that Christian fellowship can lose its purpose the moment envy and jealousy begins to find expression.
2. To teach the importance of celebrating other people instead of envy and jealous.

INTRODUCTION

Envy is “the painful feeling of wanting what someone else has, like attributes or possessions.” If you’re jealous, you feel “threatened, protective, or fearful of losing one’s position or situation to someone else.” Christian fellowship is a family affair, the family of God. Our purpose is to complement each other and not to see to the downfall of any. We must not be the reason why one fellow would generate envy against the other.

The wall of peace in Jacob’s family began to open when it was discovered that their father loved Joseph more than the rest, coupled with his dreams, the envy and jealous begin to multiply. The elderly ones are not ready to submit nor bow to Joseph no matter what, so evil suggestion starts coming in when they had every privilege. They thought of killing him, he was later put into a pit until he was later sold to strangers. They were intimidated, threatened and felt their future success is not certain if Joseph is very much available, only did they know that they can be far better if they encourage and motivate him!

DISCUSSION

1. Should we in any way feel threatened with the success of any fellowship members?
2. What should be our attitude when one of our members is making waves in his/her endeavour?
3. What do you think would happen to the fellowship if any of our members opt out because he’s being envied?
4. How can we as a family withstand the dangerous threat called “envy and jealousy’ in our midst?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

When you celebrate the best in others, the grace will rub on you. Feeling insecure or threatened by the achievement of others is a gimmick to self-devaluation. Instead, form a supportive team and be instrumental to his/her greatness, I tell you, the history of such greatness will not be complete without capturing your impact.

Envy and jealousy will never fetch you the best, you will end up achieving nothing. Be the Aaron and Hur that would lift the hands of any Moses around you, your imprint will forever remain glittering in such victory.

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 13:4.