TEXT: Genesis 4: 2b-12
What is jealousy? It is being
envious of someone who has something we do not have. It is being envious of
someone’s success, achievements and breakthrough. Jealousy is a sin unto God;
it is not an attribute of a good Christian. Instead it shows that such believer
is still living in flesh.
Jealousy comes from fear,
insecurity and covetousness. When you are jealous, it means you are not
satisfied with who you are and what you have. Jealousy is the act of having the
desire to be like other people in beauty, riches, intellect and talent. When
you are unable to achieve these, you get jealous of the people that you feel
they are better than you.
Having the spirit of jealousy
shows that you are not satisfied with what God has given to you and you do not
appreciate Him. The scripture said that we should be contented with what we
have without coveting people’s things.
The text reference (Genesis
4:2b-12) Cain and Abel are brothers. Abel offered good sacrifice unto God, but
Cain did not offer God his best sacrifice. When God blessed them accordingly;
Cain became jealous of his brother, the jealousy grew to the level that made
him to kill his brother. A lesson here is that when you become jealous, you can
take an irrational decision. Your sense of reasoning would be taken over by the
devil, and the consequences could be disastrous!
God was very angry with Cain for killing his brother;
He placed a curse on him. If he was not jealous of his brother’s blessing, may
be God would have blessed him during subsequent offering, but his act of
jealousy fetched him curse!
As children of light; we
should be happy when people around us are progressing. We need to rejoice with
people that are rejoicing, not in pretence but wholeheartedly.
The bible says we are created
in the image of God, and God instructs us to have the same attitude like Jesus
Christ. If you are Christ like; you will not be jealous of people that are
succeeding. Jealousy is not of God, it
is synonymous with the kingdom of darkness. It is the work of flesh and not of
spirit; the scripture says we should live in spirit so that we will not gratify
the desires of sinful nature. (Gal 5:16) If you obey this scripture; you will
be manifesting the fruits of the spirit rather than manifesting the works of
the flesh.
1 Corinthians 3:3 says “you
are still worldly; for since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are
you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men”? No matter how long you have
been in Christ; if you still harbour jealousy in you, it shows you are worldly
and the love of God is not in you.
The scripture says in Romans
8:8 that those that are in flesh cannot please God. If you want to please God;
you should do away with every works of flesh.
DANGERS OF JEALOUSY
·
Jealousy is a
sin, and sin hinders prayers. (Isaiah 59: 1-2)
·
The spirit of God
cannot dwell where jealousy dwells. (Matthew 6:24)
·
The person will
be tormented by devil because he or she belongs to their kingdom.
·
The person will
experience closed heavens; everything will be difficult for such person.
·
Instead of
blessing the person will inherit curse.
HOW TO DEAL WITH JEALOUSY
·
Guard your heart
against evil thoughts and feeling. (Proverbs 4:23)
·
Ask the Holy
Spirit to help you.
·
Dwell on the word of God constantly.(
Philippians 4:8)
·
Be filled with
Holy Spirit.
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)
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