While pastoring I once saw a fledgling church almost ruined by a grown jealous man. Things were going blessedly until this leader didn't get elected to a desired postion and so sat pouting in his pew the following Sunday morning. He was stewing in his own juices of jealousy. He was secretly enraged that he didn't get what he wanted, someone else did. Subsequently he gathered people around him and led them out of the little church. It was most injurious although the Lord sustained and the church is doing well today.
JEALOUSY is a complex emotion that encompasses feelings ranging from fear of abandonment to rage and humiliation. Jealousy strikes both men and women and is most typically aroused when a person perceives a threat to a valued relationship from a third party. The threat may be real or perceived. It is not limited to romantic relationships but also can arise among siblings competing for parental attention or in friendships. Jealousy is distinguished from envy in that jealousy always involves a third party seen as a rival for affection. ENVY occurs between two people and is best summed up as "I want what you have."
The Bible addresses this injurious emotion:
"For jealousy enrages a man,And he will not spare in the day of vengeance" (Proverbs 6:34). And again, "Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,But who can stand before jealousy?" (Proverbs 27:4).
Whew! That's plain talk. So, let us beware and judge ourselves while remembering that jealousy is the raw material of murder.
d. christen
