How can I deal with jealousy?

Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

Instead of enjoying the favor and love of her husband, Rachel focused on her inability to give Jacob children. In her pain, she became jealous of her sister, Leah. We can deal with jealousy by being thankful and enjoying what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t have. We should be especially careful about this during times of trials and pain since a natural response is to focus on the bad in our lives during those times.

Matthew 20:15“‘Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’”

The cure for jealousy is gratitude. Jealousy reveals selfishness. We want for ourselves what someone else has. Jealousy shows a smallness of heart that resents the blessings and joys of others. The inability to rejoice in another’s success or good fortune limits our own capacity for joy.

John 21:19-22Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and . . . Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

To prevent jealousy, we should keep our focus on God and accept that he has a specific path set for each of his followers. When Peter heard Jesus’ prophecy of his death, he wondered what would happen to the other disciple (John). Jesus made clear that Peter was to pay attention to his own concerns, not those of others. In many situations, we may be tempted to compare our lot in life with someone else’s. Jesus rebukes this attitude because it shows discontent with God’s plan and stirs dissent among people.