Jealousy - The One Year Book of Hope

Jealousy

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. –Titus 3:3-5

I finally identified the root of the problem I’m having with someone. I’m jealous, and it is so hard and so humbling to admit. So many little things have been rubbing me the wrong way and I’ve found myself constantly churning and complaining. Then I realized it wasn’t so much about her doing or saying the wrong things as much as my attitude toward her, an attitude that has been warped by envy. I am envious of her gifts that dwarf mine and of her opportunities that eclipse mine. I feel jealous as she moves into territory that I’ve considered mine. (Did you catch the mine, mine, mine theme here?) But I’m finding that just by naming it for what it is, seeing it for the sin it is, jealousy is losing its power over me. I want to celebrate her accomplishments and speak well of her whenever I have the opportunity. I don’t want to listen to the voice of insecurity that tells me her successes will diminish me, that those who care about her will forget me. I want to be free.

Those of us who have experienced loss are especially prone to jealousy and envy. We’re painfully aware of what others have that we do not—those who have complete families while ours is fractured, those who have financial security while ours is shattered, those who seem to have rosy futures when ours is threatened. We can’t help but notice, but we can guard our hearts from souring with jealousy and simmering with envy. Is the anger you feel toward others in your life due to envy over the abilities they have that you do not have, advantages they have that you were not given, admiration they enjoy that you have always wanted? Are you jealous, fearing that the affection of someone you care about or the attention from people you respect will go to someone else? Would you cleanse your heart from envy by choosing to unselfishly and sincerely celebrate the joys of those who inspire jealousy rather than ignore or undermine them? Would you thank God for what he has given to you and seek to find full satisfaction in him?

Kind Savior, you provide everything I need and enjoy. Help me to stop looking around at others, feeding my envy of who they are and what they have. Help me to live out my satisfaction in you by dying to jealousy and envy.

DIGGING DEEPER