Jealousy is a strong feeling of possessiveness that can be positive or negative. It can be a sin that can lead to chaos and bitterness. “A peaceful mind gives life to the body, but jealousy rots the bones.” The root cause of jealousy is connected to a person’s inability to see what God has provided in their life and a lack of thankfulness.
James 3:13-18, emphasizes the distinction between worldly “wisdom” driven by envy and selfish ambition, and true wisdom coming from God, which manifests as peaceable, gentle, and merciful behaviour, essentially stating that a person’s true wisdom is demonstrated through their actions and character, not just their words; the “wisdom from above” is pure, peaceable, and leads to good works, while the earthly wisdom leads to chaos and conflict.
Proverbs 23:17 tells us that we should not envy others, but instead fear the Lord. When we envy others, we are focused on what they have and what we don’t have. This can lead to discontentment and unhappiness. However, when we fear the Lord, we are focused on Him and His promises.
We should have a commitment to serve God with gladness. Get rid of the jealousy by acknowledging the sin, confessing it to God, ask for forgiveness, and then lay it at his feet.
