The hidden evil of jealousy

When we think of evil what comes to mind? Murder? Rape? Child molestation? I was watching on the news last night of a man who had kidnapped a little girl and held her captive for eighteen years sexually abusing her. I can't think of a much evil action than that. Sure murder and rape are evil but so many times other "smaller sins" seem to fly under our radar or we tend to overlook them as "not as evil".

"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech." (I Peter 2:1) In the list of a few evils you will see the word "jealousy." We don't think much of jealousy as being "evil". We laugh at it or see it as "normal" but God's word calls it evil.

So what do people get jealous over? Maybe others looks or build? Maybe someone else gre up in a more exampletory family and you didn't. Maybe you didn't get chosen for something while a friend of yours did. Maybe God is using someone you know in a great way while you feel "inferior".

"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkeness,wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

Galatians is clear in that when we are jealous we are submitting to our sin nature and the consequences of living that type of lifestyle is serious.

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones." (Proverbs 14:30)

When there is jealousy in our hearts we are not at peace. When we allow jealousy to enter our hearts its like a cancer that eats at us from the inside out. Allowing it (jealousy) to live will kill us and relationships!

Some things I've found helpful in fighting back jealousy is:

1) "Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind." (Romans 12:2)

2) Be happy for people!

3) Pray and ask Got to conitinue to bless them and ask God to help with the things lurking in your heart.