The Bible’s address of jealousy is two-fold: a good thing and a bad thing. It presents jealousy as a negative and destructive emotion in humans, while also presenting it in a positive manner when portraying God as a “jealous God” who demands that you praise and serve Him only.
While human jealousy is often rooted in envy, God’s jealousy is righteous and protective of his covenant with his people. Human jealousy is condemned in the Bible as destructive and a “work of the flesh” that will prevent you from getting through the pearly gates of Heaven (Galatians 5:19-21). James 3:16 links jealousy with ‘disorder and every vile practice,” while Romans 13:13 warns believers “don’t do it.”
Now, God’s jealousy is righteous. It comes from His passionate concern for the exclusive love and devotion from each of us that he feels rightfully belongs to Him, and I ain’t mad at him for that. In Exodus 20:5, God declares Himself a ‘jealous God,” and Exodus 34:14 states, ‘the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
So how can you overcome jealousy? Repent and ask for forgiveness. Acknowledge jealousies, own them, repent, ask for forgiveness and pray and trust God to relieve you of those weaknesses that have caused the jealousy within you. Stop comparing yourself to others. That’s what a lot of jealousy comes down to – comparison. So instead of comparing, focus on God’s goodness to and for you. What God has for you is for you. What He has for others is for others. Stay focused.
Last but not least, love. You know everything circles back to love. Build on a relationship of selfless love for others. Put others’ interests ahead of your own. Rejoice with others. Celebrate with others, put love for others above your own, and those “others,” make sure some of those are people that you tend to be jealousy of. You may find eventually that the jealousy you had towards them will fade. Love really does conquer all, especially love that is grounded in God and his word. Love is bigger than jealousy. Try it.
With Agape Love,
Willie Mae