ENVY, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELINGS
Jesus told his disciples, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man" (Mark 7:20). He also went on to say to them, "All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (7:23). This is true of the works of the flesh Paul mentions in Galatians 5, and of the last four he specifically references. In a day and age where so many refuse to take the message of the gospel within to live by, we need to be reminded that both the attitudes which produce such actions, as well as the actions themselves, are unacceptable to God for those seeking to please him. The attitudes which produce such responses must be changed for us to have a genuine relationship with God.
"Envyings" is never used in a positive
sense in the New Testament. The term refers to jealousy that feels pain and
spitefulness to others, resulting in hateful or harmful responses. Envy doesn't
originate because a person wants what another one has, as is often the case
with jealousy, but due to a person not wanting another to have it. The person
who envies can't "rejoice with those who rejoice" (Romans 12:15), but
would take away whatever it is another possesses so they can't rejoice. Such
was the motive of the chief priests against Jesus (Mark 15:10). To respond to
others this way brings one under the judgment of God (Rom. 1:29, Rom. 1:32).
"Murders" refers to killing unjustly, from
personal motives than from that which is just and righteous. It's impossible to
be unaware of this problem in our society, as we hear of it so frequently, and
see it reported so much on the evening news. While it's tempting to feel this
is a problem that may not affect us personally, Scripture points out before any
act of violence that results in the murder of another is perpetrated, the heart
is engaged in sin. James tells us, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1
John 3:15). The heart must be examined long before the act is conceived to
ensure we abide in the love of God (1 John 3:14).
"Drunkenness" and "revellings" go
together. To be drunk is sinful before God, contrary to what modern society may
think. It is a work of darkness that should not be characteristic of the child
of God (Romans 13:12-14). It dulls the senses, causing one to think and act in
ways that affect not only the person who gets drunk, but those they interact
with, typically in negative ways. This is what revelling is about. This term
refers to riotous conduct in the New Testament. It denotes drunkenness with
impurity and obscenity of the most repulsive kind. It may be characteristic of
one's past before obeying the gospel, but cannot be true of life lived in the
gospel, of life in Christ (1 Peter 4:3).
Satan always tries to make these
activities seem innocuous, but they are deadly, both physically and
spiritually. The one who would honor God will avoid allowing such things to
fill one's mind and heart, and ultimately one's life. No matter how much
deception is attached to these things, Paul's analysis is true; "they which
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21).
Robert
Johnson, Longview, TX