Gospel Light Society Podcasts

Gospel Light Society Podcasts

By Daniel Whyte IIIReligion & Spirituality
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Gospel Light Society Podcasts episodes

  • How to Overcome Temptation, Part 141 (Envy) (Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class #265)
    Galatians 5:26
    Today, we are looking at one of Paul’s instructions to the Christians at Galatia. Paul tells these Christians to not provoke and envy each other by being desirous of their own glory. Here we see the root cause of envy: a sinful human desire for vainglory. The King James Bible Dictionary defines vainglory as, “Exclusive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind.” There are some things that people can rightfully find pride or glory. A medical student may see glory in healing people as a doctor. A soldier may see glory in serving his country. And Christians should find glory in serving God. But these vainglorious Christians do not find glory in serving God, but rather the attention they get from serving God. They do not care about the work of God so much as they care about the recognition they can get from doing the work of God. And when they do not get the glory they think they deserve, they grow envious of those Christians who are being applauded for the work they are doing. Charles Spurgeon said, “We call it glory, but if vain glory it is marred by vanity if it arises from anything done by us. Glory for you or for me because of anything that we can do is too absurd an idea to be entertained for a moment. For, whenever a man is proud, and blustering, and vain-glorious, he is sure to provoke somebody or other, and then they who are so provoked fall into another sin, the sin of envying one another. How often, if one Christian brother does a little more than his fellow-workers, they begin to find fault with him; and if one is blessed with greater success than others are, how frequently that success is disparaged and spoken of slightingly! This spirit of envy is, more or less, in us all; and though, perhaps we are not exhibiting it just now, it only needs a suitable opportunity for its display, and it would be manifested.” This pursuit of vainglory leads to provocations and envyings on the part of the vainglorious person. Because this person was never genuinely interested in truly selflessly serving God, they do not see the need for the work to go on smoothly when they do not get the attention they want. So they stir up strife by provoking others into confrontations. Their spirit is filled with envy against their fellow Christians. Let us follow Paul’s instructions here to guard ourselves against selfish ambitions in the pursuit of vainglory. Then we will be less susceptible to causing trouble among Christians and be less envious of others.
    47 min

About Gospel Light Society Podcasts

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Gospel Light Society is a global ministry that seeks to present the Gospel to all people, in every language, around the world, over the internet. People all over the world need to hear about the love, peace, and joy that only comes through Jesus Christ. For many people, they are not free to practice their Christian beliefs in their country. For others, they do not feel comfortable in a public place of worship. Because of this, millions of people search for God on the internet. In many languages, GLS seeks to share the Gospel of Christ to those who contact us and then help them to grow in the saving knowledge of Jesus by connecting them with a church or a home Bible study group.