Love does not Envy

Note: Envy affects every part of one’s body, even to the inner most parts. Bitter envy is in direct response to those around us. It interacts with people we are envious of their success, performance, or gift. Yes, even spiritual gifts. Envy seeks its own success.

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” Proverbs 14:30 (ESV)

 Gills: “but envy the rottenness of the bones; a man that envies the happiness and prosperity of others, this preys upon his own spirits, and not only wastes his flesh, but weakens and consumes the stronger parts of his body, the bones;”

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James: 3:13-16 (NKJV)

 Poole: (14) “…though it pretends to be zeal, yet is really no other than envy; and partly because it commonly proceeds from an embittered spirit and tends to the embittering it more.”

Advertisement

Suffers Long (patient)

Note: I’ve never thought being impatient was a pride situation, but now acknowledge it certainly can be in many cases.

 “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

Benson: “…and the patient in spirit — Who quietly waits for the issue of things, and is willing to bear hardships and inconveniences in the mean time; is better than the proud in spirit — Which he puts instead of hasty or impatient, because pride is the chief cause of impatience.”

 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:7-8

 Barnes: “The idea seems to be, that we should wait for things to develop themselves in their proper season, and should not be impatient before that season arrives. In due time we may expect the harvest to be ripened. We cannot hasten it.”

Fruit of Love

Note: To look at the fruit of love, there are no better verses to begin with than I Corinthians 13:4-7. It is here we can have a clear view of love.

 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoiced in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all thing, endure all things.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7

MacArthur: “The objects of faith and hope will be fulfilled and perfectly realized in heaven, but love, the God-like virtue, is everlasting (I John 4:8). Heaven will be the place for the expression of nothing but perfect love toward God and each others.”

 Ellicott: “The more excellent way is “Love.” Without it all moral and intellectual gifts are valueless. If there be love—the love of God, and the love of our brethren—in our hearts, all will be well.”

Henry: “The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish!”

 

Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And
those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
 

Barnes: “That which the Holy Spirit produces. It is not without design, evidently, that the apostle uses the word “Spirit” here, as denoting that these things do not flow from our own nature.”

Ellicott: “The fruit of the Spirit is that which naturally grows out of the operation of the Spirit, in which it naturally results.”

Gills: “… as they are fruits, and are rightly and properly so called, so they make men fruitful, and to abound in divine things…”

MacArthur: “Godly attitudes that characterize the lives of only those who belong to God by faith in Christ and posses the Spirit of God. “

Poole: “The fruit of the Spirit; those habits which the Holy Spirit of God produceth in those in whom it dwelleth and worketh, with those acts which flow from them, as naturally as the tree produceth its fruit…”

Note: How often we ignore the power which the Holy Spirit can change each individual. It is the work of the Holy Spirit we need to call upon to empower us with the fruits of the Spirit. Fruit which can wart off sin and enrich our spiritual well being, therefore gifts to draw others to Christ. Why are the fruits of the spirit over-looked? How is it we give up on continuing to pray for these attributes? Let’s take an in-depth look at the fruits of the Spirit.

Next post we’ll start with love…