Sneetches "R" Us, October 20, 2013

Sneetches “R” Us

Psalm 73:1-3, 10-14, Matthew 20:1-16

Grace Presbyterian Church

October 20, 2013

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Miller

The Sneetches of Dr. Seuss

“Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars. Those stars weren’t so big. They were really so small you might think such a thing wouldn‘t matter at all. But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches would brag, “We’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.” With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort “We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!” Then one day, it seems while the Plain-Belly Sneetches were moping and doping alone on the beaches, just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars, a stranger zipped up in the strangest of cars! “My friends”, he announced in a voice clear and clean, “My name is Sylvester McMonkey McBean. And I’ve heard of your troubles. I’ve heard you’re unhappy. But I can fix that. I’m the Fix-It-Up Chappie.” Then, quickly, Sylvester McMonkey McBean put together a very peculiar machine. And he said, “You want stars like a Star-Belly Sneetch? My friends, you can have them for three dollars each!”

The story continues with the plain belly sneetches paying money to have stars put on their bellies and then the star belly sneetches paying money to have their stars taken off. Back and forth it went, with sneetches having stars put on and then taken off. This went on until all the sneetches had spent all their money.

Pride and Envy  In one fell swoop, Dr. Seuss captured the essence of pride and envy. Both pride and envy made Pope Gregory’s list of the Seven Deadly Sins. Why did envy make the list? Because whether we realize it or not, envy foments resentments, creates regrets, fuels discontent, and separates us from God. And in the Tenth Commandment we read, “You shall not covet anything that is your neighbors.” (Exodus 20:17)One person wrote:

In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy. [Ivan Illich, priest, 1926-2002]

So what is envy?  First of all, we must remember that envy is coupled with jealousy to create a two-headed, green-eyed monster. And the two are quite different.

A person is jealous of what one has (that it might not be taken away or destroyed), and envious of what other people have (that you want so much that you feel your joy and happiness depends on acquiring it).

In whatever way you define it, envy distorts the mind and warps thoughts, words and actions. How does envy manifest itself? Those too heavy might be envious of those thinner. Those too short might be envious of those taller. Those who are poor might be envious of the rich. Those who are plain looking might be envious of those considered beautiful. Those who are less intelligent might be envious of those who are smart.

People Are Different  The fact is, people are different. They have different gifts. They have different physiques. And each of us know of people who are richer, better looking, stronger and smarter than we are. This is simply a fact of life. People have different attributes, personalities, and bank accounts. Life isn’t equal.  

A few years ago, a person observed,“If life were equal, all men would have all the wealth of Donald Trump, the physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the wit of Woody Allen, and the selfless devotion of Mother Teresa.”

Ambition and Debts  Now some folk think that being dissatisfied with what we have is what spurs us on to bigger and greater things. It’s called ambition. To some degree that is true, but it also spurs us on to bigger and greater debts. Envy can be very expensive.

A person once said, “Have you every noticed that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to save money when your neighbors keep buying things you can’t afford?”

And “Envy results in spending money we don’t have, to buy things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t like.”

Now I’m sure that’s not universally true, but the fact remains that envy rears its ugly head at some time or another in our lives. Each time it does, it robs us of joy.

As Shakespeare said, “O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes.” [As you Like It]

Another person observed, “You can’t be envious and happy at the same time.” [Frank Tyger]

Isaac Envy is found quite frequently in the Bible. When Isaac and his family went to live in the country of Philistia, he soon became richer in land, flocks and herds than most of the Philistines around him. As a result, the Philistines became very envious of the success which Isaac enjoyed. [Genesis 26:14]

Prodigal Son When the prodigal son returned home and received a party, the older son said, “It isn’t fair that my younger brother should receive a welcome like this when I have stayed home all these years in the father’s house and I have never received a party like this one.”  (Luke 15:11-24)

Jesus and Workers in a Vineyard  In our morning scripture, Jesus told the story of a man who hired workers for his vineyard. Some he hired at 6:00 a.m., others at 9:00 a.m., noon and 3:00 p.m. and some just an hour before quitting time. No matter how long each person had worked, each received a full day’s pay. As might be expected, those who had worked all day were envious of those who had signed on an hour before quitting time. Why? Because it in their minds, it wasn’t fair.

Envy is not a healthy emotion . Envy and jealousy have been called the Green-Eyed Monster. All-consuming envy can eat us alive - it can cause us to lose sight of the virtues of love, concern, caring and contentment.    

Dwight l. moody once told a fable about an eagle who was envious of a fellow eagle who could fly better than he could.  One day he saw an archer who was out hunting.  He dropped down and said to the hunter, “Would you please bring down that eagle up there?” pointing to his arch rival.  The archer replied, “I might be able to if I had a feather for my arrow.”  So the eagle plucked a feather out of his wing for the archer to use.  But the arrow missed. So again the eagle pulled out a feather, and then another and another.  Each time, the archer missed.  Suddenly the eagle discovered that without his wing feathers, he no longer could fly.  So the archer took advantage of the situation and killed him.  Moody concluded, “if you are envious of others, the one you will hurt the most by your actions will be yourself.”

Contentment How do we counteract envy? One way is through contentment. I suggest that if we were completely content with our lot in life, we would never be envious of others. The sneetches became content with or without stars on their bellies and they were finally happy. Both pride and envy had disappeared. To be content would mean that we would not care that our co-worker was promoted before we were, or that a rich uncle died and left everything to our brother, or that our neighbor has a new boat. Yes, envy is fueled by dissatisfaction and defused by contentment.

Paul  Paul, while in prison and waiting for his trial to begin, said, “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content...” (Philippians 4:11) That is an amazing statement considering the trials and tribulations which Paul endured over the years. Overall, the fact is that if we are completely content with who we are and what we have, we will never be envious of others.  

Perspective Sometime life is a matter of perspective.

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent several days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"  "It was great, Dad."  "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. “Oh yeah" said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants to serve us but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us but they have friends to protect them."  With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son said, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Life isn’t always Fair If we are to be content, we must accept the fact that life is not always fair. And that we aren’t always going to be treated fairly. This doesn’t mean we have to like it, but we don’t have to become envious or resentful when it happens.  

Envy Separates  We also need to recognize that envy separates us from God and neighbor. Coveting what other’s have is specifically forbidden in the tenth commandment.

Wish them Well One way to counteract envy is to look at everyone who has things you don’t have and wish them well. Wish them great joy with their money or their power. I used to think it unfair that people who are really good in sports make millions of dollars a year while I, who did more for the spiritual welfare of people than they did, made so little in comparison. Now I wish them well and hope they find fulfillment and happiness in their wealth.

Prayer  Finally, we need to take all of our feelings of envy and coveting to God in prayer, asking to be cleansed from such feelings.

Final thoughts Are you envious of anyone? Are you resentful of someone who has more of what you want? Then I suggest you wish them godspeed. Wish them happiness. Wish them joys galore. If you do, the Green-Eyed Monster will no longer hold you a prisoner. Amen.

Psalm 73:1-14 NRSV

¹ Truly God is good to the upright,

   to those who are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

   my steps had nearly slipped.

³ For I was envious of the arrogant;

   I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

¹⁰ Therefore the people turn and praise them,

   and find no fault in them.

¹¹ And they say, ‘How can God know?

   Is there knowledge in the Most High?’

¹² Such are the wicked;

   always at ease, they increase in riches.

¹³ All in vain I have kept my heart clean

   and washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴ For all day long I have been plagued,

   and am punished every morning.

Matthew 20:1-16 NRSV

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’