Green-Eyed Monster

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones."  Proverbs 14:30

Oh, the green-eyed monster of jealousy.

We don't like to talk about it, do we?  But not talking about it doesn't make it go away.

Jealousy is so very dangerous.  Just listen to what Proverbs 27:4 says about it, "Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous" (NLT).  James 3:15-16 goes on to say, "For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind" (NLT).

While we know our Savior is jealous for us (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Nahum 1:2), it is not okay for us to be jealous of one another.  Jealousy demonstrates we belong to this world and the devil rather than to Jesus.  Galatians 5:19-21 warns, "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (NLT).

Cain killed Abel because of jealousy.  Joseph was sold into slavery because of jealousy.  David lived a portion of his life on the run from Saul because of jealousy.

But, what is the solution?

God gives us that, too.

Scripture tells us in James 4:2-3, "You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure" (NLT).

When we have a humble and grateful heart that is dependent upon our Savior for strength, there is no room for jealousy and wrong motives.  There is no room for bitterness of any kind.  Our hearts are filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and the power He gives.

1 Corinthians 15:57 states, "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ" (NLT).

May we take all our requests before Heaven's throne that our Father might purify our every desire and motive, giving us everything we could ever ask of Him and so much more.

Goodnight, Runners.