Ecclesiastes 4:4 Cross References

Ecclesiastes 4:4

4: Then I observed that most people are motivated to success by their envy of their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.

We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was right.

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. Even this, however, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.

This made Saul very angry. "What's this?" he said. "They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!"
So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

For though I do my work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave everything I gain to people who haven't worked to earn it. This is not only foolish but highly unfair.

he became even more afraid of him, and he remained David's enemy for the rest of his life.
Whenever the Philistine army attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers. So David's name became very famous throughout the land.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him.
When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind.

while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering,
but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected.
"Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him. "Why do you look so dejected?
You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it."
Later Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, "Let's go out into the fields." And while they were there, Cain attacked and killed his brother.

This is the history of Jacob's family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father's flocks with his half brothers, the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
Now Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day he gave Joseph a special gift--a beautiful robe.
But his brothers hated Joseph because of their father's partiality. They couldn't say a kind word to him.
One night Joseph had a dream and promptly reported the details to his brothers, causing them to hate him even more.
"Listen to this dream," he announced.

He might become the leader of millions and be very popular. But then the next generation grows up and rejects him! So again, it is all meaningless, like chasing the wind.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but who can survive the destructiveness of jealousy?

"These sons of Jacob were very jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful?

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