In what ways can jealousy affect my life?

Proverbs 12:12Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

Jealousy can lead to theft. Thieves steal out of jealousy and lust for someone else’s money. Generous people, on the other hand, love to give.

Judges 12:1Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”

Jealousy can make enemies of friends. The twelve tribes of Israel were once friends and brothers, united in the common cause of building a nation under God. When the tribe of Ephraim wasn’t called to participate in a big victory, they threatened to burn down the houses of their countrymen. Jealousy can make us act in ways that we would never otherwise consider. We should not let jealousy and pettiness drive a wedge between us and our friends and relatives.

Genesis 4:4-8Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, . . . One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

1 Samuel 18:9-11So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day . . . David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall.

Acts 17:5-6Some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council.

Jealousy for attention or affection can drive a person to extreme action, even to harm or kill others. The first murder recorded in the Bible, when Cain killed his brother Abel, was the result of jealousy. Saul’s jealousy of David drove him insane. Envy and jealousy destroy not only the person who feels them, but often leads them to attack those who are the objects of their envy and jealousy. While we may not attack people with spears as Saul did, we may use sharp words and piercing comments, which can also be dangerous.

Galatians 5:22-26The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

If we seek the character traits that come from the Holy Spirit, we will learn to fight petty human jealousy and the hard feelings that come from the competition for attention and popularity.

1 Samuel 18:6-12When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. his was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice. Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.

Notice the progression of jealousy in the life of King Saul: (1) Saul suddenly became afraid David might replace him; (2) Saul was tormented by a jealous spirit; (3) Saul’s jealousy led him to uncontrolled rage; (4) Saul became paranoid, and began a passionate, lifelong pursuit to harm David. This consumed him to the point that Saul could think of nothing else and became ineffective for God.