Jealousy

We typically think of being jealous as a bad thing, and in most cases, I would agree that this word reflects negative thoughts. For example, we want what others have and feel jealous toward those who we think are doing better in life than we are. And yes, God does bless us in many different ways, but my initial thought is that we are alive, and in most if not all of our cases, we are true Christians in every sense. I can see where those who are not a member of the Lord’s body might want a life similar to ours, and to some extent, may feel a bit jealous toward us. They may or may not indicate that they have this jealousy, but my suggestion is that we do not remain silent when it comes to what they can and must do to have a similar life. The true answer to overcoming this type of jealousy is to obey the Gospel.

As just mentioned, there are those around us who would enjoy being like us in their lives. I am not saying that they desire to keep up with us by having the physical things that we have, but they may want a marriage like ours, an attitude toward others that is similar to ours, or maybe even our positive outlook on life, especially eternal life. After all, we should be a content and positive example to those we go through life with.

We also need to be grateful for and satisfied with what we do have. Being jealous toward others is an unhealthy option, it can impact our present life as well as impact our future life.
Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

I don’t see us making carved images of things that represent idols, but we do sometimes put things of this life ahead of God. We think more highly of what we want, what we have, or what might instantly benefit or satisfy us much more than we should.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 NKJV

23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Although I am richly blessed in many ways, I cannot see why anyone would be jealous of my life. I certainly don’t see myself living a perfect life, nor is my example always consistently good as I would like, nor what God would like for that matter. I have my down days, my anxious days, and even those days when I just don’t do what is right in God’s sight. It is my prayer that you are a better example to others than what I am. Even if we are much the same, thankfully we can all be forgiven.

Ephesians 1:7-10 NKJV

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him.

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