We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Summary: Malice and envy are at the root of hating others. Paul explains this so we remember and understand what our Lord has saved us from.
Malice and Envy are two of the principal cities in Hell. People who live there are not very happy. As Paul points out, they spend their time being hated and hating one another.
Malice is a special kind of evil. It is not only interested in self-gratification. Malice wants to see another person suffer.
God warned us against this behavior in his shortlist of Ten Commandments. Commandment six reads, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20: 13) Where would the television and book publishing industries be without murder? What murder does not involve malice?
Envy, as you know, is another word for coveting. The last commandment is a kind of “catch-all” that says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17)
How is hate involved?
Our introduction to Paul in the Bible is in Acts 7: 57-58. The entire Sanhedrin is thrown into a rage when Stephen speaks the words given by the Holy Spirit. They drag him out of the city and murder him by beating him to death with rocks. Paul, a young man at the time, took care of the coats of those doing the killing. Later, Paul himself went on to persecute the church, breathing out “murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” (Acts 9:1)
Paul knows about hate. He understands how we justify hating with faux righteousness. When he finally saw the light and submitted to Jesus (Acts 9: 3-6), he came to understand what it felt like to be hated.
Paul says that “At one time we too … lived in malice and envy.” As a comedian might say, both towns are a good place to be from.
Application: Remember when you, too, lived in Malice and Envy? Thank the Lord he has rescued you from that horrible place.
Food for Thought: How does knowing about malice and envy help us teach others about Christ?
This subject is one which reminds me how sorry we can at times be that Adam and evil choose to believe the devil and disobey God and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
There are some kinds of evil it is unpleasant to contemplate even exist in society, may enter our mind, or witness the fruit, actions, or results, of those who have this mindset and practice the deeds and speech from result from it.
The scriptures say Abhor that which is evil, and cling to that which is good. Overcome evil with good. Don’t let your good words and deeds be spoken of as evil. Keep away from people who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way. People who hate and are malicious in their intent or have covetous desires are best avoided. Be wise about what is good, but innocent or simple about what is evil.
I think there are some areas of thought with which we should not become involved in plumbing their depths. I know enough about hate, malice, greed and covetousness. I would prefer to focus my mind and thoughts on that which honors the Lord.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about these things. (Romans 12:9, 21, 14:16, 16:19, Philippians 4: 8.
I appreciate so much your comment that these are cities we should stay away from and not ever plan to revisit. I think I need to wash my mind out with the Word of God which feels and is much better that washing one’s mouth out with soap.
I don’t want to think about these subjects any more than absolutely necessary.
Take care, Be Blessed and a blessing,
Focus on God and how good He is, and what is good. Try to let your mind and plans be thinking about how to please Him, do good, and be useful for His Kingdom purposes. The God of peace with be with you if you are doing this (Philippians 4:9).
Jeff,
I totally agree that “there are some areas of thought that we should not become involved in.”
If we know about our sin and own it, then we understand our need for salvation and a Savior. So knowing about these sinful behaviors allows us not only to repent, but to mercifully show others their need for the Savior as well.
Rich,
Two good points! We need to own up to our sin, and we need to have compassion on those who are where we were.
Thanks Jeff E (short for excellence) and Rich (who is in God’s wisdom and has been blessed with every thing which pertains to life and godliness as endowed by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:3-4).
I appreciate so much the mercy of God and believe we should constantly give it to others who desire to follow the Lord.
At the same time the purpose of shame and guilt is to lead us to the kind of repentance which is not content with stopping with anything short of victory. We acknowledge, own, and take the measures necessary to bring our lives and behavior in line with God’s will and word, and desire an extremely healthy, flourishing relationships with God and others.
This usually requires radical changes, extreme measures.
So is it possible to be both conservative as well as committed to a radical Christianity which honors and glorifys the Lord and builds up His body, while rejecting the world, the flesh, and Satan’s desires.
I like hot but not burning food and drink, as well as chilled food or drink rather than lukewarm or room temperature.
Jesus says He feels that way about our deeds and walk with Him. He even says He is ready to spit out those who are neither hot or cold (Revelation 3: 16).
It not a problem to be radical, if it’s in your desire to know, love, and please the Lord.
It’s possible I am not enough of a radical!
He is worth knowing and pursuing above all else.
Thanks so much for your encouragement.
Jeff,
You are an encouragement to me, too! Thank you!
Yesterday, Ron noted that “We seek to achieve spiritual growth by the power of our flesh.” He went on to add that we need to “‘stop’ seeking spiritual growth by our power” and rely on God.
It is a tough balancing act. How hard do we push? How slow do we go? Waiting on God’s timing is sometimes the toughest thing I have to do.
How does knowing about malice and envy help us teach others about Christ?
Adam and Eve were pure, created beings who knew right from wrong, had a relationship with God and freewill. Immediately after choosing to sin, the eyes of both were opened, they became aware of their nakedness, tried to cover themselves by their works, heard God and knowing their guilt tried to hide from Him so their nakedness would not be seen.
Genesis 3:7-11
Because of this all mankind has a sin nature. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This sin nature is the part of human beings that drives us to desire and commit sin and is called our flesh. All the perversion, distress, bitterness, anger, conflict, shame, and tragedy come as a result of our living in sin. Outside God’s standard in a set of standards we set for ourselves.
Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:21, 7:11, 2 Peter 2:18, Colossians 3:5
God has done several things to provide for our reconciliation with Him. Written His laws on the hearts of all mankind, given all a consciences, provided the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement to come, sent His Son Jesus Christ who proclaimed the truth and in the end give His life as payment for all sin, for all who choose to repent and follow Him. And leaves all believers on earth for a time so we could be used by Him as lights in this dark world. HE HAS ACTUALLY DONE A LOT!
Romans 2:15-16, John 16:8-12, John 3:16, Matthew 5:14-16
Every believer has come out of sin, into the righteousness of God by the conviction of the Holy Spirit who opened our eyes, ears and hearts to the truth of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ascended into heaven He gave us two commands, they both began with “Thou shalt Love”.
When God brings a non-believer to me I know everything I have written before this. I know they feel shame, they are leading a terribly painful life apart from God, as they have fought against the truth written in their hearts and as revealed by the Holy Spirit, they are fatigued by the malice and envy in their life and need to know the love of God. I have lived where they are, know all about malice and envy, God provides me with the power to see beyond all the garbage, to embrace the child He created as I demonstrate the love of Christ and tell them how He has made a place for them. I don’t have to tell them they are bad, I just need to be a light and tell them God loves them. They are my neighbor.
Matthew 22:37-39
Thank you, Ron!
Seeing past the garbage can be hard. I guess we have to get past our own “garbage” first. 🙂
Excellent point Brother!
Ron