Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
BREAKING THE CHAINS OF JEALOUSY AND ENVY, No. 2
Solomon 8:6: “Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.”
Jealousy can take on many different forms:
Pastors can be jealous of the size of another church because of its success.
People can be jealous of other people’s gifts, other people’s good looks, riches and possessions, wives or husbands.
People can be jealous of their neighbor’s success; that they get more attention than you, or that they have more friends.
The mature way of hearing of someone else’s success is to be glad and rejoice for them. There is something wrong with us when we criticize others just because we are jealous of them. This is childish. Romans 12:15 says: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one to another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
I think it is wrong to be hard on yourself and allow yourself to be condemned just because someone else is rejoicing in their success while you are not. You are not a failure just because someone else has success. Stop condemning yourself and start being glad for other people’s success or blessings.
Cain was jealous of God’s respect for Abel’s offering and ended up murdering his brother. Instead, he should have learned the lesson on the type of offering God wanted. Instead of being jealous, be glad for others and see if there is a lesson to be learned for your own blessing.
Sow goodness to others bountifully and see how quickly you will begin to reap your own rewards.
It’s time to seek the Lord to break these terrible chains.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
