The Poison of Jealousy: Biblical Warnings and Remedies

The Poison of Jealousy: Biblical Warnings and Remedies

Emotion of jealousy is poisonous, so the Bible clearly warns us of this destruction and provides us with ways to deal with it. The word of God is a complete guide to life, giving us reference and understanding of how we should be living.

The Nature of Jealousy

"Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?" (Proverbs 27:4)

This verse clearly defines all the emotions. Wrath is dangerous and a crime. Anger has its own negative impact. But it is jealousy that is the master of these emotions. It is jealousy that drives people crazy, turning them into angry maniacs and bringing disaster to their own lives and others. It is the root of all evil. It starts with innocence and slowly deprives you of peace, turning you into a criminal.

Biblical Examples of Jealousy

It was jealousy that led Cain to turn against his brother Abel because Abel's offerings to God were better. Instead of improving himself and his offerings, he kept that grudge against his brother, driving him to the point where he planned and executed his brother's murder. At no step did he try to tame this monster of jealousy; instead, he gave in to it.

Carefully read in the scriptures what turned Saul against David. It was jealousy that robbed Saul of his peace, making him restless and possessed by a demon. How did he transform from a cool person to an untrustworthy one who set all the odds against David, making full plans to execute his murder? It was because David was gaining more fame.

The jealousy of Joseph’s brothers turned them against him to the extent that they plotted to kill him and even planned to lie to their father, crafting lies that he was devoured by a ferocious animal. They ended up throwing him in a cistern on Reuben’s advice, as they were so jealous that Reuben couldn’t find any other way to save his brother.

It was the jealousy of the Pharisees that blinded them to salvation and made them devalue the Son of God, handing Him over to be crucified. Satan used jealousy to execute his plan, wishing to terrify Jesus from the greater cause He came to live by.

The Consequences of Jealousy

"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (James 3:14-16)

The Bible warns us of what jealousy is capable of doing. It is capable of disorder. It keeps you off track, and you lose discipline in life. You attempt every evil act against the person you are jealous of.

"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot." (Proverbs 14:30)

What else is jealousy capable of doing? It will rot your bones. It will rob your joy. It will make you feel sad and disheartened. It will make you feel lowly and disrespectful. It will give you a false image of yourself and others.

Jealousy and Worldly Living

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

"For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" (1 Corinthians 3:3)

The Bible tells us that as long as we live in the worldly way, jealousy will consume us. It is by living in a Godly way that we can control our jealousy and its negative effects on us and the people around us.

Controlling Jealousy

But how can you control this emotion? Read the Bible verse below:

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17)

The scriptures clearly give the solution by advising not to compare yourself to your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Every other person is your neighbor. So stop looking at your neighbor’s car or maid or house or earnings, and your life will be satisfied. Covet means to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably. So do not desire what belongs to others. Improve yourself to get there, but don’t keep an eye on your neighbor’s stuff.

Selfish Desires and Jealousy

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:1-3)

Now you see your selfish desires make you feel jealous. You don’t see the efforts that took the other person to the peak, and you desire his position and wealth. That is why you don’t get what you desire, even when you pray for it. You need to evaluate your motives and make your own dreams to fulfill, not by copying your neighbor.

Spiritual Growth and Jealousy

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:1-3)

By acting upon the word of God, you can get rid of all jealousy, malice, and envy. Instead of looking at and desiring your neighbor’s good, think of God’s way of how good He is to you. Focus on His word to be better each day and be a productive tree bearing fruit.

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another." (Titus 3:3)

Be the one who leaves envy in the past and takes pride in salvation. Let this envy be past tense for you. Don’t be the one who hates others and is hated. Instead, transform your life. Become the greater person.

The Futility of Envy

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong." (Psalms 73:2-4)

It is not for you to judge. But you never know the person you are envying might have struggles, or he might be of wicked nature. So why envy at all? Watch who you are envying, whether the righteous man like David and Abel or the wicked person who has no struggles. In both cases, envy won’t serve you any purpose. By envying the righteous, you are turning all the battles against yourself, and by envying the wicked, you are losing your foothold, your personality, and your joy. So envy, in the bigger picture, is not serving you any good.

"And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 4:4)

Envying can lead to good work too. But again, control this emotion. Do good for the sake of good, not out of envy. So give direction to your mind. Make your thinking positive. Because if you are doing good out of envy, it is pointless as it will not produce joy within your soul, and soon you will be exhausted and come up with more evil from envy, ruining the reputation of another person.

Celebrating Others' Success

"And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt." (1 Samuel 18:3-4)

Saul was jealous of David as he considered him a threat to his kingdom when indeed David was a threat to his son Jonathan, for he was the next heir of the kingdom, and David was getting popular. But instead of feeling threatened by David’s success and fame, Jonathan celebrated. He gave David his robe and weapons. Jonathan did not rob his joy. Instead, he trusted God and celebrated the moments with David because he saw David’s righteousness.

Focusing on What is Noble

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

So we have the solution. Do not compare, do not look at your neighbor’s stuff, but think about noble things, about excellent things, and adopt those in your life. Be thankful