Sometimes it’s subtle. It sneaks up on you quickly, catching you off guard. If it is left to fester, and grow roots, it can turn into bitterness, and contempt. It often masquerades as something else. Perhaps it feels like anger, making you critical of others’ decisions. This leads to defensiveness of your decisions. (Even when you don’t need to defend them.) The end result is always the same. The dangerous place of discontentment. Why can’t we just keep our eyes on Jesus, and our mind on our personal blessings?
Often jealousy is caused by what we perceive to be fact (how something appears), rather than what is true (how something ACTUALLY is).
Jealousy, or envy, was the root behind the first murder recorded in the Bible. Cain and Abel. Brothers, both raised to worship, trust, and believe God. One obeyed when it came time to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. And one did not. We know how that story ends. (Genesis 4)
Jealousy is a strong “motivator”.
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Proverbs 6:34
Jealousy motivates us to rage, and causes vengeance. Often between friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ. God calls us to love one another. To build one another up. To exhort one another with scripture. Love never envies. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
… jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Jealousy motivates us to burn bridges. To kill relationships. It is cruel as death and fire, according to this verse in Song of Solomon. When we speak or act out of impure, jealous motives, we hurt people. And often ourselves in the process.
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 14:30
Jealousy causes health problems. Stress, stomach ulcers, anger, we all know that worrying over things we have no business worrying over will get us nowhere good. Give your envy to God! Pray about it. If there is something you need, or even want, cast those things on Him, for he cares for you! Isn’t that what scripture tells us? Either he will provide, or he will change your heart about the matter. I have seen it and experienced it for myself.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:3
Envy leads to hating one another. Like I said before, many of the things we get jealous of are perceived things. When someone has it “better” than you. How talented someone appears. How “well off” others seem to be. I often wonder if social media, with all it’s “snapshots” of daily life, was created to cause jealousy. Nobody wants to put the negative things about their life on display regularly. We often only get to see the highlights in those pictures. The joyous moments. But then the comparison game starts. And when Satan gets involved, he makes us feel like we are somehow inferior.
If you want to be reminded of just how good your life is as a child of God, go read Psalm 139. Oh how He loves us! He has such wonderful blessings in store for each of us, in his time.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17-18
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Don’t look around at others. Don’t measure your life up against anyone else’s. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. The path God has called you to walk is going to be different than someone else’s. And that’s the way He intended it. You can serve God in your circumstances in ways that someone else you may be envious of cannot. Seek forgiveness for any malice, or harsh feelings towards others. Then thank God for where you are, and go forward knowing He loves you and you are precious.
Such a good reminder! 👊🏼👏🏼🙌🏼 Thank you ❤️