When Michelangelo and Raphael were creating works of arts to beautify the Vatican, a bitter rivalry rose up between them. Whenever they met, they refused to speak to each other. Yet each was supposedly doing his work for the glory of God.
Jealousy always parades behind the façade of religious zeal. Miriam and Aaron critized their brother Moses. But God’s anger revealed that it was actually jealousy that prompted their critism. Out of jealousy, Saul sought to kill David whom God has chosen to succeed Saul as king. And when the apostle Paul was in prison, some were so jealousy of the way God was using him that they preached Christ in order to add to the apostle’s distress.
We can over come this harmful attitude, but first we must identify it. Jealousy believes that someone else is getting what we deserve: money, popularity, anything; secondly, we must confess it. Call it what, it is sin; thirdly, we must give thanks. When we see someone enjoying any advantage, we must accept it with gratitude. We keep jealousy in check by refusing to compare ourselves to others. As we learn to find our satisfaction in God, His grace enables us to rejoice with those who rejoice. When we do that, we have little room for envy.
When we turn green with jealousy, we are ripe for trouble.
The nature of jealousy is to turn on those who habour it; and it will ultimately destroy them. The Old Testament word of jealousy means “to burn or to inflame” an apt description of what goes on inside the person who allows jealousy to smoulder.
A legendary Burmese potter became jealousy of the prosperity of a washer man. Determined to ruin him, the potter induced the king to issue an order requiring the man to wash one of his black elephants white. The washer man replied that according to rules of his vocation he would a vessel large enough to hold the elephant, where upon the king commanded the jealous potter to provide one. Tough carefully fashioned, it crumbled to pieces beneath the weight of the giant beast. He made several vessels, but each was crushed in the same way. Eventually the potter was ruined by the very scheme he had devised to defame the man he envied.
In similar way, Saul’s jealousy eventually caused his own destruction. In Proverbs 6:27 we can read, “Can a man take fire to his bossom, and his clothes not burned?” The coal of jealousy quickly becomes a raging fire that will burn us severely. Unless we douse it with confession and repentance it will eventually consume us.
“Jealousy is cruel as death and spawns a fearful brood; it sets on fire the heart of men and leads to action rude” –Paul Van Gorder.
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black sea, causing a tragic loss of life. The news of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. The blame did not belong to defective radar or thick fog but to human stubbornness. Both captains were aware of the other ship’s presence and could have taken evasive action to avert the collision. But according to the news reports, neither want to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield the right-of-way.
Even greater havoc and loss can be created in human relationships for much the same reason, “envy and self-seeking”. We prefer to blame world’s problems on religious or political differences, but James says that the root problem is pride and self-centeredness. It caused the archangel Lucifer to fall from the heavens (Is 14). And our first parents, Adam and Eve, lost their innocence for the same reason. The only way to keep jealousy and envy from turning into major disasters is to draw on the wisdom that comes from above, wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy and goodness. That will mark the beginning of harmony, not havoc.
Some troubles come from wanting our own way; others come from being allowed to have it.
Inequality seems to cause jealousy. When we see someone with more than we have, we become jealous. One day during my apostolate in a Parish, I put this question across to the group that I was working with; “If they believed all men are created equal”. Most of them answered no. They cited our differing abilities, appearances, and environments. One man complained of taking “Pâte” in the morning, while others drink tea in the mornings. Only one person showed a deeper understanding of the question. She said “under God we are all equally human”.
The Bible teaches that all the persons or people are created in the image of God, that they are all accountable for what they do with what He has given them, and that they will all die. So “under God” there is equality, but only under God. Apart from Him and His Plan for ultimate justice, we see much that isn’t fair.
Christians can keep the right perspective. They have all come to God as sinners and have found forgiveness in the cross of Christ. Therefore, the rich and the poor stand together on the common ground of Calvary. The rich rejoice that they have discovered the emptiness of material wealth, and the poor rejoice that they have discovered eternal riches. According to James, this is the wisdom that enables us to avoid the pitfall of jealousy.
No one can take from us the gifts that God gives us
In the world technology, friction is an enemy of efficiency. That is why auto engineers put so much emphasis on aerodynamics, easy rolling tires, and short-stroke engines. They want to reduce the friction caused by air resistance, road contract and moving ports.
In Numbers 12, we read about a form of friction that creates discord, diminishes our witness and worship, and hinders the spirit work in our lives. Miriam jealous revolt against her brother Moses brought God’s rebuke and slowed the Israelites’ progress. The friction she caused was just like personality problems among jealous church members today.
We’ve all felt the sting of verbal burbs short at us by envious “archers”. But the greatest pain caused by envy is felt by the one who harbours it .A God centered, loving heart nurtures the believer’s life, but envy eats like a consuming disease into the marrow of our moral fiber. Whenever we feed friction due to envy or jealousy, we must confess it and ask the Lord for His help. Then we must forgive those who have wronged us or apologize to those who we have wronged. The friction will disappear, and we’ll once again be spiritually energy-efficient. (Confusion, hurt, and strife will reign when harshness marks our talk: But harmony and love abound. When kindness guides our walk).
We cannot be jealous and efficient at the same time.
No one is more miserable than someone filled with jealousy or envy.Such people rob us happiness and make good accomplishments seem bad. Furthermore, they exact their own punishment on themselves.
On the wall of a chapel Padua, in Italy, hangs a painting by the renaissance artist Giotto.It depicts envy with long ears that can hear every bit of news of another’s success. Envy also has the tongue a serpent to poison the reputation of the one envied. But a careful look at the painting reveals the tongue coiling back and stinging the eyes of the figure itself. Giotto that envy is blind, and also deatroys itself.
Jealousy was one of sins hurting the church at Corinth. The people had divided into fractions because they were jealous of one another’s gifts. Each believer strove for preeminence. Paul instructed them to follow the ‘more excellent way” of love [1 cor. 12:31] telling them “love does not envy”(13:14)
If we resent success of others and find ourselves striking out at them with damaging words or insidious innuendoes, we have a problem with jealousy. But wants to administer the antidote of love. That alone will keep us from becoming jealousy’s victim.
(from seeds of envy in the heart grows noxious weeds of hate and if allowed to get a start, much harm they generate ).
If we shoot arrows of jealousy at others we wound ourselves.
Envy and jealousy are feelings of discontent and resentment aroused by thinking about another person’s desirable qualities or possessions and wanting them for ourselves. Rachel envied Leah because she bore children (Gen. 30:1) ;Joseph’s brothers resented him for his dreams (Gen. 37:11); Saul was jealous of David because women praised him (1 Sam. 18:7-9); and in Acts 13:45,the jews opposed Paul’s preaching for the same reason :envy.
Any advantage held by another; intelligence, good looks ,popularity ,even their spiritual insight may trigger this feelings . The most devout Christian is not immune to it’s attack .
A preacher once mounted a platform and a large crowd thronged to hear his stirring messages . Then when another great teacher also came to town , and people flocked to hear him ; the first preacher confessed that at first he was envious . He said “The only way I can conquer my feeling is to pray for this great Bible preacher daily –which I do”.
A negative reaction toward anyone who has what we lack quenches the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts . That’s why we must root out all envy and jealousy . We gain victory when we desire good for the one we envy.
When other people find success but you do not advance , do you congratulate their gain or wish you had their chance ?
A daily dose of Christ-like love will heal the disease of jealous.
By: Robert Kortey Apla-kweku