When you see people around you who easily reach their goals in life
while
here you are, still on a rut,
at times you cannot help but feel jealous.
Advice are pouring in- ‘just be contented
and be thankful for what you have -- blah blah’ but this doesn't make any difference.
It doesn't calm your real feelings of negativity, of course its easy to say to just be contented with what you have but how are you going to do that?
Here are some bible verses to help us with
jealousy towards the success of people around us.
Let’s start with Genesis 4:6-
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why
are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not
be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;
it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
Cain in my simple perspective is jealous
because his little brother’s offering to God is favoured more than his offering.
(please note that this is just how I understand it)
God reminded Cain that in his anger sin is
knocking (NIV version – crouching) on his door. Regardless of the offering, God
love Cain.
But Cain is angry, out of nothing. Nobody did
something wrong to him and God even cared for him regardless of the offering.
But why Cain feel really furious about a simple
matter?
In the book of Job, we will clearly see that
the spiritual world is real.
A pastor in the church I am attending to
said, there is a spiritual battle.
Job 2:3
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have
you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is
blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains
his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any
reason.”
And the enemy is roaming around earth to devour
its prey and having serious business about us humans to be angry towards God.
No matter how many times we say to ourselves
not to be jealous, we cannot help but feel it.
Why?
Because we are blinded of the real image of the big picture.
Let me say my personal story…
One time, I felt really jealous towards a
Youtuber. At first, I am her biggest fan and even watch her videos and ads to
support her channel, but now as I see her channel grow, I felt really jealous.
Because here I am, still not successful in anything that I attempted to do.
When I started to feel angry, I ask myself why
do I feel angry over nothing.
The Youtuber did not do anything wrong to me?
Why would I feel angry, envious and jealous?
Silly right?
But I am reminded, that this anger is not from
yourself. It is a desire instilled to you by the enemy.
I started to feel jealous to people who easily
achieves their dreams.
And I can react in two ways.
One.
Start quarreling people around me for the misfortunes that happened to
me.
Or
Two.
Remind myself of the promises of the LORD. And point out that there is a
spiritual battle that is happening around us. Instead of quarreling people
which upsets the LORD, I can contemplate on the promises of the bible and make
God happy by trusting in His promises.
It’s a victory versus the enemy as well, just like what happened to Job
when he said.
Shall we accept good from the LORD and not trouble?
Job 2:10
He replied, “You are talking like
a foolish woman. Shall we accept god from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in
what he said.
Seeing the big picture of the spiritual battle
that is happening around us is a great reminder that being jealous, envious, and angry towards
the success of others is really petty.
Our mind was successfully persuaded by the enemy
to give huge importance to money, career, love-life and fame.
When one that is really important, is to trust
in the LORD’s promises that He will supply all our needs.
For me, it is a great blessing to win with the
LORD. God’s battle is more important than the material things I want now.
The next time you feel angry, jealous and
envious towards getting that promotion or having a million pesos savings or a
big house, remind yourself that anger, jealousy and envy are sin against God. It
upset’s God and the LORD want us to win the spiritual battle with Him.
Cling on to the promises of the LORD because
God is not a man who changes His mind.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should
lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?
Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your
needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Realizing the spiritual battle that is happening will melt down our anger and jealousy, because we now know that God is after our welfare, we might experience hardships in life because the enemy is working hard for our downfall, but fear not, even if we lose everything like Job did, winning the battle with the LORD is blessed feeling that no one can replace.
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