Bible Study

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

• In verse 13, how do we prove that we are really wise and understand what God requires of us? By humbly living according to His Word, honoring Him with our life and by doing good deeds
• Do you think that Saul showed that he was wise and understood God’s ways; why or why not? No, he disobeyed God, lied to Samuel, and made excuses for his sin. He did evil instead of good, and he was full of pride not humility. He did not honor God with his life even though he was the king of Israel.
• In verse 14, if we have jealousy and selfish ambition, what should we do? Admit it; confess it instead of covering it up, or worse, bragging about it.
• In verse 15, where do you think jealousy and selfishness come from? The ways and spirit of the world, the devil.
• In verse 15, how could Saul have been affected by worldly or evil things like jealousy and selfishness when he was anointed with God’s Spirit? Saul made a choice not to follow God’s Word and God’s leading even though he was anointed king. He made a choice to follow his sinful nature.
• Do we have the same choice? Yes, God gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us and to lead us. Ultimately, it is our choice whether to obey and follow God’s leading and His Word, or to let our sinful nature rule. We can choose to be influenced by worldly and evil things, and the spirit of this world.

2. 1 Corinthians 3:3:

For you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

• Paul, the apostle, was talking to believers in Christ who were acting foolishly. What were they controlled by? Their sinful natures.
• What was the result? They fought or quarreled with each other. They were jealous.
• When we live according to our sinful nature, what are we likely to do? Disobey God, sin, and do evil things.
• Who should we give control to instead? The Holy Spirit.
• When we are led by God’s Spirit, what are we more likely to do? Obey and please God. Live according to His Word.
• Why should we not be living like people of the world? We are called to be different and to live godly lives. We are created new in Christ and should obey Him. God’s standards are much higher than the world’s standards.

3. Proverbs 27:4:

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

• What do you think wrath is? Extreme or fierce anger; vengeful anger.
• Why do you think it could be compared to a flood? It builds up and then spills out and overflows; it is sudden and cannot be stopped.
• Why do you think jealousy is considered more dangerous than anger and wrath? It is hidden inside. Jealousy secretly plots and plans harm against another. It is hard to guard against something hidden that is kept burning.
• Have you ever been jealous? Were you able to overcome it? If so, how? What does jealousy have to do with not being secure or confident in who you are in God, and who He made you to be? We should not compare ourselves to others and want what they have. Saul was the king of Israel, yet he wanted the praise and success David received. We must be thankful for who God created each of us to be. He made each of us unique and special, and He has a plan for each of us to fulfill.