Were keeping the ball rolling with digging out the small things; gratitude and now jealousy!
This is no surprise I’m sure, It’s something we all experience and a thing we all try to justify.
Here’s something to remember: sin makes God “sad”, and jealousy is a sin. jealously is not a sin that really effects others, it effects the one who is jealous and it effects our relationship with God!
Jealously is mentioned multiple times in the Bible, but today I want to focus on two different incidents; Cain and Abel and Jacob and Esau. Notice that jealously is between two people, we are usually not jealous of God; yet our jealously is a triangle of inclusion. It’s you, the other person, and God. Jealousy is not only bad because it’s a sin, but also because we are shaming God. In reality we are complaining to God that He has not given us “enough”. Lets take a look at what this looks like…
Cain & Abel
Cain and Abel are examples of what jealousy can do with your relationship with God.
“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” – Genesis 4:2-5 –
When one persons purpose progresses more than ours, that does not mean God is not providing for your purpose. Both Cain and Abel each had different purposes. Abel kept the flocks, Cain worked the Soil. Each vital for survival! Yet, when is came time for the approval factor…Cain gets nervous. When we are fully present in God’s purpose for our life’s and our eyes are on Him, and only Him, we are content. Yet, when it came down to who got approval, Cain looked to what he had and saw that Abel had the better. Quickly what he was so content in became what crushed him. When it comes to approval we can’t look to what we do or don’t have, we need to look at what Chris has created us to do, not what we feel catered to do.
Yet, with Cain, he knew what God expected. God expected the animal but because of his lack of knowledge in reading what God desired, he came up with fruit.
“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 rule over it.” – verses 6-7 –
If Cain would’ve been content with what he knew was right, then he wouldn’t have been jealousy. The “right” in our lives looks like right were God has placed us, and being willing to go where He leads us. Cain worked the soil, but what if just once he tried to work the flock? If we love God that much we will be willing to leave our area of “soil harvesting” to “keeping the flock”. God’s desires and leading will not leave us in a place of jealousy and lack of contentment. If what you are doing is right in God’s standards then keep doing it, if what you are doing is right in your standards…you need to reconsider the path you are taking. You may just end up giving God fruit.
Jacob & Esau
The story of Jacob and Esau gives us a side of jealously that caters to being thankful for what God HAS given to us.
“When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”
But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?” – Genesis 27: 34-36 –
Jealousy brings out words like…
- “Bless me–me too my Father”, because what one person is given seems better than what God has given us.
- “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?, because we start to justify our jealousy by using the rights we think we have to a God that goes by whats right for us. Not about what we deserve, but what God has preserved uniquely for us. Cambria Joy put on her Instagram this, “only you can fulfill God’s plans for you.”
- “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”, because we look at what God has given others and expect a God of creativity to give us the same.
Jealousy happens too when what we are passionate about doesn’t seem to get the credit it deserves. Esau deserved to get what Jacob deceitfully got, yet Esau got what God wanted him to get…and Jacob did too. Jealously can end when we focus on what Christ means for us to have, not what we think we need.
Mary Kate Roberston puts it like this in her blog, “This is totally how I naturally see things weather I always realize it or not- if something good happens to someone else, that takes away from me. But this isn’t truth. We serve an infinite God who cannot be divided because He has no boundaries. Love, joy…they are things with no boundaries.” In other words, what God gives to others doesn’t neglect what He gives to you.
Ending jealousy is when we end the thoughts that we serve a boring God who is not creative.
The more we realize that jealousy is not only a sin that effects us but God, the more we will not want to envy. The more we see that what God gives to others doesn’t effect what He will give us, the less envious we will be. Rest in those truths today.
With Christ like bubbling love,
Julia
Dear Heavenly Father, Jealousy is something that I struggle with, and I want it to change. You have great plans for my life, and by looking at what you are doing in others lives will only take my eyes off of you and your plans for me. Forgive me where I have complained to you about what you have provided me with. Help me to seek you in this time. In Jesus’ name I pray AMEN!
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