The Truth about Jealousy

The truth about Jealousy

It has been on my heart to enlighten people about the most destructive attribute that one can develop throughout their lifetime-jealousy. Jealousy is coveting what someone has or a position that someone holds. Jealousy is not a new concept. Many of the things that we have done, continue to do and plan to do is out of jealousy because we want to match up to or outdo others. Jealousy is toxic to the point where it does not pardon anyone. Anyone can become jealous of someone else without even realizing what is happening. Jealousy is sneaky and you may think that you are immune to it but it is a destructive spirit that can destroy friendships, families, associations and ultimately destroy YOU.

How to identify the root of Jealousy in ourselves and others?

To identify the attribute of jealousy in our lives, we have to first assess ourselves. Are my motives right? Am I genuinely happy for friends, family and people in general when God has favoured them? Do I love to see when good things happen? Do I speak ill of others or do I speak blessings over their lives? Do I get upset or angry when someone shares their journey of victory? Do we hate when we see people benefit from their hard work? Your response to each question will inform you of your state. Whether you have a small amount of jealousy or a lot, you are still in danger! Do you know that jealousy can cause you to develop psychological issues? Jealousy will KILL YOU! GET RID OF IT!

Impact of jealousy

Jealousy if left untreated will cause you to become a murderer. Yes, I said it. Let me remind you of the account of Joseph and his brothers. “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf” (Gen 37:5-7), but his brothers were outraged and said, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words” (Gen 37:8). Part of the problem was that Joseph was Jacob's favourite son as Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colours, symbolic of his prominence in Jacob's eyes, so as Joseph "came near to them they conspired against him to kill him." They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams" (Gen 37:18-20). Instead, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, but much later, they would discover their jealousy, which was sinful. The point is, when jealousy is fully mature, your logical way of thinking becomes distorted or corrupted. You will not make the right decisions and you will stop at nothing to get what you want even if it means killing those who have been good to you. Flee from this destructive nature.

Ways to overcome jealousy

Jealousy cannot be dealt with by masking it with or compounding it with negative things that others have done to you in the past. In overcoming this repugnant trait, we must first identify that it exists within us and then ask God to help us. It takes a conscious acknowledgement of what is and the willingness to get rid of it. Ps. 3:8  says "from the Lord comes deliverance." Know that he is the only one who can set you free. Once that is done, make a deliberate effort to change the way you think and operate. Practice being genuinely kind and happy for others, work hard towards your own goals and remember that each individual is unique and so has a different purpose-there is absolutely NO reason to be jealous of others.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14: 30

By: L. Fearon