When David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, . . . the women sang. . . : "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; . . . So Saul eyed David from that day forward (1 Samuel 18:6-9).
THEME
JEALOUSY
"Every time a friend succeeds," railed novelist Gore Vidal, "I die a little."
Novelists are not the only people who experience jade-green jealousy. Saul was extremely jealous of David's popularity. Young, handsome, and valiant, David charmed the crowds. Saul feared being deposed, and his jealousy haunted his whole reign.
Jealousy is the emotional response to the fear of losing something or someone we love. In the case of Saul, his apprehension about losing the throne probably led to extreme paranoia.
We understand Saul's situation because we have all felt jealousy. It is not as simple to comprehend righteous jealousy, but there is such a thing. Exodus 34:14 says that Jealous is one of God's names. God was jealous of anyone or anything that stole the affection of His people.
Holy jealousy has no selfish motives; it seeks only the best for every person. Paul promised the Corinthians to Christ, and he had a godly jealousy when they strayed (2 Co 11:2).
God's holy jealousy sent Jesus to the cross. In Old Testament terms, God was jealous because we had taken other lovers. He knew we could find happiness only in loving Him. The pure jealousy of Calvary was really the genuine love of a holy God.
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APR 22
NUMBERS 12
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife
(Philippians 1:15).
When the famous sculptor Michelangelo and the painter Raphael were creating works of art to beautify the Vatican, a bitter spirit of rivalry rose up between them. Whenever they met, they refused to speak to each other. Yet each was supposedly doing his work for the glory of God.
Jealousy often parades behind the facade of religious zeal. Miriam and Aaron criticized their brother Moses for marrying an Ethiopian. But God's anger revealed that it was actually jealousy that prompted their criticism. Out of jealousy, Saul sought to kill David, whom God had chosen to succeed Saul as king. And when the apostle Paul was in prison, some people were so jealous of the way God was using him that they preached Christ in order to add to the apostle's distress.
We can overcome this harmful attitude, but first we must identify it. Jealousy believes that someone else is getting what we deserve--whether money, popularity, wisdom, skill, or spiritual maturity. Second, we must confess it. Call it what it is--sin. And third, we must give thanks. The moment we see someone enjoying any advantage, we must accept it with gratitude. We can keep jealousy in check by refusing to compare ourselves with others.
As we learn to find our satisfaction in God, His grace enables us to rejoice with those who rejoice. When we do that, we have little room for envy.
--D.J.D.
When we turn green with jealousy, we are ripe for trouble.
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APR 23
JAMES 3:11-18
Jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire
(Song of Solomon 8:6).
The very nature of jealousy is to turn on those who harbor it; and it will ultimately destroy them. The Old Testament word for JEALOUSY means "to burn or to inflame"--an apt description of what goes on inside the person who allows jealousy to smolder.
A legendary Burmese potter became jealous of the prosperity of a washerman. Determined to ruin him, the potter induced the king to issue an order requiring the man to wash one of his black elephants white. The washerman replied that according to the rules of his vocation he would need a vessel large enough to hold the elephant, whereupon the king commanded the jealous potter to provide one. Though carefully fashioned, it crumbled to pieces beneath the weight of the giant beast. He made many more vessels, but each was crushed in the same way. Eventually the potter was ruined by the very scheme he had devised to defame the man he envied.
In a similar way, Saul's jealousy eventually caused his own destruction. In Proverbs 6:27 we read, "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" The coals of jealousy quickly become a raging fire that will burn us severely. Unless we douse it with confession and repentance, it will eventually consume us.
--P.R.V.
As a moth gnaws a garment, so jealousy consumes a man.
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APR 24
JAMES 3:13-4:6
Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there (James 3:16).
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea, causing a tragic loss of life. The news of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident that hurled hundreds of passengers into the icy waters. The blame did not belong to defective radar or thick fog but to human stubbornness. Both captains were aware of the other ship's presence and could have taken evasive action to avert the collision. But according to news reports, neither wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield the right-of-way.
Even greater havoc and loss can be created in human relationships for much the same reason--"envy and self-seeking." We prefer to blame the world's problems on religious or political differences, but James says that the root problem is pride and self-centeredness. It caused the archangel Lucifer to fall from the heavens (Isa 14). And our first parents, Adam and Eve, lost their innocence for the same reason.
The only way to keep jealousy and envy from turning into major disasters is to draw on the wisdom that comes from above, wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy and goodness. That will mark the beginning of harmony--not havoc.
--M.R.D.II
Some troubles come from wanting to have our own way; others come from being allowed to have it.
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APR 25
JAMES 2:9-11; 3:13-18
Who is able to stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4).
Inequality seems to cause jealousy. When we see someone with more wealth than we have or with qualities we lack, we become jealous.
While recording interviews for a radio program, I asked people on the street in New York City if they believed all men are created equal. Most of them answered no. They cited our differing abilities, appearances, and environments. One man complained that he had to eat hotdogs for lunch while others ate in fancy restaurants. Only one person showed a deeper understanding of the question. She said, "Under God we are all equally human."
The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God, that they are all accountable for what they do with whatever He has given them, and that someday they will all die. So, "under God" there is equality--but only under God. Apart from Him and His plan to bring about eventual justice, we see much in life that is not fair.
Christians are in the best position to keep the right perspective. They have all come to God as sinners and have found forgiveness in the cross of Christ. Therefore, the rich person and the poor person stand together on the common ground of Calvary. The rich rejoice that they have discovered the emptiness of material wealth, and the poor rejoice that they have discovered eternal riches. And according to James, this is the wisdom that enables us to avoid the pitfall of jealousy.
--M.R.D.II
No one can take from us the gifts that God gives us.
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APR 26
NUMBERS 12
"Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" (Numbers 12:2).
In the world of technology, friction is an enemy of efficiency. That's why auto engineers put so much emphasis on aerodynamics, easy-rolling tires, and short-stroke engines. They want to reduce the friction caused by air resistance, road contact, and moving parts.
In Numbers 12, we read about a form of friction that creates discord, makes everybody uneasy, diminishes our witness, weakens our worship, and hinders the Spirit's work in our lives. Miriam's jealous revolt against her brother Moses brought God's rebuke and slowed the Israelites' progress. The energy-robbing friction she caused was not unlike personality problems among jealous church members today.
Probably all of us have felt the sting of cruel verbal barbs shot at us by "envious archers." But the greatest pain caused by envy is felt by the person who harbors it. A God-centered, loving attitude is at the heart of the believer's life and health, but envy eats like a consuming disease into the bones and marrow of a person's moral fiber. That's why Socrates called envy "the soul's saw."
Whenever we begin to feel friction due to our envy or jealousy, we must confess it as sin and ask the Lord for His help. Then we must forgive those who have wronged us or apologize to those we have wronged. The friction will disappear, and we'll once again become spiritually energy-efficient.
--H.V.L. & H.G.B.
We cannot be jealous and efficient at the same time.
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APR 27
GALATIANS 5:19-26
"For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one"
(Job 5:2).
No one is more miserable than someone filled with jealousy or envy. They rob us of happiness and make our good accomplishments seem bad. Furthermore, they exact their own punishment.
On the wall of a chapel in Padua, an old city in northeastern Italy, hangs a painting by the Renaissance artist Giotto. The painter depicted envy with long ears that could hear every bit of news of another's success. He also gave to Envy the tongue of a serpent to poison the reputation of the one being envied. But if you could look at the painting carefully, you would notice that the tongue coils back and stings the eyes of the figure itself. Not only did Giotto picture Envy as being blind, but also as destroying itself with its own venomous evil.
Jealousy was one of the sins hurting the church at Corinth. The people had divided into factions because they were jealous of one another's gifts. Each believer strove for preeminence. Paul therefore instructed them to follow the "more excellent way" of love
(1 Co12:31), telling them that "love does not envy" (1 Co 13:4).
If we resent the success and accomplishments of others and find ourselves striking out at them with damaging words or insidious innuendoes, we have a problem with jealousy. But God wants to administer the antidote of love. That alone will keep us from becoming jealousy's victim.
--D.C.E.
If we shoot arrows of jealousy at others, we wound ourselves.
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APR 28
ACTS 13:44-52
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy (Acts 13:45).
Envy and jealousy are feelings of discontent and resentment aroused by thinking about another person's desirable qualities or possessions and wanting them for ourselves. Here are some classic examples: Rachel envied Leah because she bore children (Ge 30:1); Joseph's brothers resented him for his dreams (Ge 37:11); Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and two hundred fifty princes envied Moses (Nu 16:1-3); Saul was jealous of David because the women praised him (1 Sa18:7-9); and in Acts 13:45, the Jews opposed Paul's preaching for the same reason--envy.
Any advantage held by another--intelligence, good looks, a slim figure, popularity, a good job, or even a person's spiritual insight--may trigger this feeling. The most devout Christian is not immune to its subtle attack. When F. B. Meyer first held meetings at Northfield, Massachusetts, large crowds thronged to hear his stirring messages. Then the great British Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan came to Northfield, and the people flocked to hear his brilliant expositions of Scripture. Meyer confessed that at first he was envious. He said, "The only way I can conquer my feeling is to pray for Morgan daily--which I do."
A negative reaction toward anyone who possesses what we lack quenches the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts. That's why we must root out all envy and jealousy from our lives. We know we are gaining victory when we desire good for the one we envy.
--R.W.D.
A daily dose of Christlike love will heal the disease of jealousy.
