Jealousy

Have you ever had a friend, family member or acquaintance who has achieved something, bought something, gone somewhere etc. that has made you feel for some reason that you couldn’t talk to them about it or even acknowledge it? A new job, a baby, a fur baby, a trip, a house etc.?

That my friend is called jealousy.

Jealousy is an ugly emotion. If we look at the cause of jealousy it is described like this: “lack of self confidence: the main cause for feelings of jealousy are doubts about your abilities or skills… poor self image and lack of self confidence can result in making you feel insecure.” (M. F. Radwan, circa 2010)

Notice how all of these feelings are about you! These feelings are nothing to do with the other person, they are completely about you and your own ‘stuff’. It is not someone else’s ‘fault’ that they are in a position to do something, achieve something, have something that makes you feel envious. We must remember that everyone is on their own journey, running their own race. I can guarantee that there is no one else who is in the exact same position as you. You are where you are because of choice and chance, for better or worse.

Let’s look at what advice the Bible gives us on this topic so that we can challenge ourselves to support and care for others regardless of our own ‘stuff’.

“But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:14-16, NLT)

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you wont need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are responsible for our own conduct.” (Galatian 6:4-5, NLT)

Ok so those are some verses dealing with your ‘stuff’. Let’s turn our attention to the other person. How do you think it makes the other person feel that you cannot acknowledge something that makes them happy? Is that what a friend does? Is that showing love?

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, NLT)

At the same time it is also the other person’s responsibility to not be proud or boastful as the above verse points out.

This topic is all about caring for one another! Philippians sums up the whole topic perfectly and from both sides of the coin:

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:3-5, NLT)

Reference: Radwan, M. F. (Circa 2010). “What causes jealousy” 2KnowMySelf .

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