Javelin of Jealousy
RISE & SHINE FOR JESUS! \O/
By Pam Iannello
I have a little scenario I want to share with you this morning
before we get started, something that takes place every day in the hearts of
people, even believers - maybe even you!
I'm going to create a person we'll name Joan. Joan has a problem; maybe you can help me
figure out how to counsel her. Her
problem is jealousy. Joan is jealous of
everyone - her sister, her mother, other ladies in her church, and
even her husband from time to time. Envy is a sin, and as a Christian, Joan
knows it to be so. She covets the money,
clothes, friends, abilities, influence etc. that others possess. Because of this, Joan spends a lot of time
wondering why she is not blessed as others are.
This type of thinking of course, leads Joan straight into
self-pity. And as she wallows in the
same pattern of thoughts she has always had, her problems seem to grow
larger... Not surprisingly, her
depression accelerates and her envy skyrockets to new heights. What would YOU counsel Joan to do??
First of all, let's consider just what human jealousy is... Simply put, it's a strong displeasure over
the advantages or prosperity of others. The Bible says in Proverbs that
jealousy is the rage of a man - it burns within and literally drives one
wild! Nothing short of the grace of God
is going to enable Joan to “put off” the old ways in which she is trapped
and “put on” God's pattern of life. Like you and I, Joan has
developed sinful patterns that send her into a tailspin every time she learned
of the good fortunes of a friend or noted the skillful use of another's gifts,
or admired the appearance of another woman. Her view is distorted and if Joan
is ever going to overcome such destructive behavior, we must counsel her to
acknowledge and repent of her raging covetousness so that she can turn to a
more constructive way of life!
Proverbs
27:4 (KJV)
Wrath
is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Though circumstances may vary, we've all had to come to this same
place in our lives as believers and will many times again. It's the way we grow and break the hold that
sin has over us! How would you describe
your feelings today about someone you know for whom everything seems to go
right? Is there anything raging
in your heart today of which you should repent?
You can’t stand before envy! Why not join Joan and just admit where you
are wrong and get your heart right before things get worse, as they did in the
case of Saul and David…
1
Samuel 18:5-11 (KJV)
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and
behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was
accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's
servants. [6] And it came to pass as
they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that
the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king
Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. [7] And the women answered one another as
they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands. [8] And Saul was very wroth,
and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten
thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have
more but the kingdom? [9] And Saul eyed
David from that day and forward. [10] And
it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul,
and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as
at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. [11] And Saul cast the javelin; for he said,
I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his
presence twice.
It
seemed everyone responded to David in a positive way - except for Saul. Saul’s appreciation for David turned to
jealousy as people began to applaud David’s exploits. In a jealous rage, Saul
attempted to murder David by hurling his javelin at him. Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin to
you, but in reality, it is one step short of murder! Jealousy starts as we resent
a rival; it leads to our wishing he or she were removed; then it
manifests itself in our seeking ways to harm that person in word or
action. William Penn made a wise observation
when he said, “The jealous are troublesome to others; a torment to themselves.”
Ladies,
we must beware of letting jealousy get a foothold in our lives…
Eccles.
4:4 (KJV)
Again,
I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied
of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Saul tried to kill David because he was jealous of his popularity,
his strengths and his accomplishments.
Like Saul, the minute we ascribe to the qualities of someone and begin
to eye others improperly with sinful, envious hearts, we are going to reach for
that same shiny javelin, something sharp to throw at that one of whom we are
envious. It will most
likely be treacherous, something that will snuff the life right
out of the other person. You see ladies,
in actuality, we want those whom we envy completely removed from our lives,
along with the threat of them ever coming back!
Our self centered thinking leaves no room at all for the good of
others. As his jealousy quickly
progressed, we find in verse 25 of 1 Samuel 18, Saul arranges to send David
into battle so that he would fall at the hands of the Phillistines and be
killed! I hope you’ve never tried to set
someone up for calamity! Why might we wish for something bad to happen to a
rival rather than choosing actually to harm that person ourselves? Is it so you can have your cake and eat it
too - minus the guilt?? Whatever the
motive, it is deeply rooted in the fact that we are not willing to admit we are
full of envy, nor ready to repent of it…
We have opened ourselves up to the wrong spirit and are therefore driven
by its cruelty, no longer controlled by the Holy Spirit of God!
Song 8:6 (KJV)
Set
me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as
death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire,
which hath a most vehement flame.
The only choice innocent David was left with when Saul threw that
deadly javelin at him twice was to avoid his presence altogether, and he had to
do so on many other occasions. David was
no dummy - he knew when he was being targeted!
And ladies, when our obnoxious comments or pointed stares are cast in
their direction, it is perfectly clear to the one you loathe (and those
standing nearby) what is going on with you!
You can't mistake a covetous spirit or hide it. It is a driving force that distorts not
only your thinking, but also your countenance! Are you the cause of someone having to avoid
your presence because of your tormenting problem with envy, because of the
invisible javelin you are holding in your hand, poised and ready to throw at
them? Please put it down and repent,
won't you? Love is the best weapon
against jealousy…
Romans
12:9-10 (KJV)
Let
love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave
to
that which is good. [10] Be kindly
affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another..
Romans
13:8-10 (KJV)
Owe
no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth
another
hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this,
Thou shalt not commit
adultery,
Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear
false
witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other
commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou
shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love
worketh no ill to his
neighbour:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
This is precisely what Joan needs to learn, and this is what you
and I need to learn today as well! Love
values the virtue of others; it doesn’t attack them. One of the greatest
expressions of love is to pray for one another.
This is exactly what Christ did for us when He hung on the cross for our
sins…
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then
said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do...
Somebody needs to tell Joan that she needs to pray for those of
whom she is jealous - does somebody need to tell YOU that today?? Ask God for the strength to love that rival
in your life, that one you begrudge.
Pray continually for their welfare - not generally either, but
specifically. For instance, rather than
envying them, why not pray for the healthy outcome
of a growing relationship between you and the person or persons of
which you are jealous, those you consider to be your opponents. Then afterward,
purpose in your heart to do good to those individuals, and you'll find
your heart will soon repair itself. BUT remember Philippians 2:3, which says,
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem other better than themselves.” There is no greater enemy to Christian love than pride and
passion! Pride even makes it possible to bestow honors on those we resent. Have
you deceived yourself into thinking you don’t wrestle with jealousy simply
because of your involvement in benevolent activities? God knows if you are
performing good simply to promote your own reputation! Do right with a pure
and humble heart.
Romans 13:13 (KJV)
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
We should also LOOK for the good in those of whom we envy. Learn to appreciate the qualities, the gifts,
the successes etc. in others lives rather than becoming jealous of them. Express that appreciation in a healthy way,
first to the Lord in prayer, and then to the one you resent. You see ladies; jealousy forces you to separate yourself from
what you were longing for in the first place! I'm going to challenge you today to go and speak to that person
you are jealous of about their abilities.
Ask them how they acquired their skills, their successes, or whatever it
is that you are coveting after in their life, and maybe you'll find that they
excelled through disciplined effort and obedience to God and not as you had
cruelly surmised. Perhaps you'll learn a thing or two about this person you
envy that will help you discover and develop your own gifts to the fullest for
God's glory! To do so will prevent the
wrong spirit from holding you back in ministering appropriately to others. I think you'll find when using love as a
weapon you'll start to become thankful for what the Lord has done, not only for
those you eye, but also in your own life!
As a result, with God's help you'll overcome your tendency toward
self-pity too. Ladies, in dealing properly with our jealousies, we can become
transformed! Many good things come of
using the right weapon. Let the
Spirit of God turn childish energies previously employed for feeding the flesh
into the production of mature fruit in your life!
1
Peter 2:1-2 (KJV)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all
guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Yes, becoming like Jesus is the answer to our human
jealousies. It's the answer we should
give to people like Joan when we are counseling them. It's the advice we must take ourselves if we
are wrestling with this issue today! Get
your relief through repentance; put an end to the war that has been raging
within your soul; let go of your javelin and pick up the cross of Christ…
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
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