BEWARE OF JEALOUSY

Beware of Jealousy

The first lesson in the Joseph Series in our Discovery Time School classes is about jealousy, and it is so well done. Who would think that jealousy could be so dangerous but is it ever! In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus summarizes the Commandments into the greatest commandment. He said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 

Notice the common theme for both is LOVE. If you love God you will want to do what he says. If you love your neighbors, you will be kind to them. So what if they have a nicer house than you, make more money or are more popular than you? How would you really feel about them in your heart? Would you have nice thoughts, or would you want what they have maybe asking yourself why they have it instead of you.

These little feelings of discontent don't just go away on their own. They grow the more you entertain them and can end up leading to unkind words and even actions toward the person you are jealous of. Jealousy does not bear good fruit, so you need to stop it in its tracks. James 3:16 Says, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there is disorder and every evil thing."

Think of the person you are jealous of and ask God to help you pray for, bless and be kind to them. Loving God means loving others as the commandments state. But sometimes it just can't be done without the help of the Holy Spirit from God to both want to and actually do it. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Surrender your will for the LORD's today. ASK HIM to help you love your neighbor and start praying for them. Jesus would not ask you to do something he would not help you do.

Laura Lawrence
CEF of Manitoba Discovery Time Director