THE PROBLEM OF JEALOUSY AND ENVY

The other sins that the Israelites committed while they were in the desert were jealousy and envy. Psalm 106:16-18 says, "The people in the camp were jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron, the Lord's holy priest. Because of this, the earth opened up; it swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram and the other rebels. Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked." In the book of Numbers, Chapter 16, Abiram, Dathan, Korah, and 250 of Israel's top leaders conspired against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They claimed that they were also qualified to be leaders because they were part of God's covenant community. They believed that all of them were equally holy and capable of being leaders. However, they had failed to point out that the Lord Himself had appointed Moses and Aaron to their positions. As a result, God gravely judged Abiram, Dathan, Korah, and 250 of Israel's top leaders who conspired against Moses and Aaron. The ground swallowed up Abiram, Dathan, and Korah and their families, and the 250 leaders of Israel were consumed with fire from Heaven. After this event, no one dared to challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron.

Jealousy and envy are toxic behaviors that we must protect our hearts and minds from. It is easy to compare ourselves with others and not be content with what we have. When we are tempted by jealousy and envy, we need to remind ourselves that God is our ultimate provider and the source of opportunities. We need to accept and be thankful for what God has for us at the moment because, in due time, God will bless us with fresh opportunities. When others have more than what we have, we need to thank God for God's blessings in their lives. We need to remember that if God blesses others, God can bless us too, but it may be in different ways. James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up." The heart of the issue of jealousy and envy is discontentment and ungratefulness. Jealousy is the feeling of insecurity and fear over the lack of possessions and security. For example, jealousy in relationships, careers, jobs, and material possessions. Envy can be defined as the negative emotion of desiring what others possess while we find ourselves lacking. Here's a funny example to compare jealousy and envy: If you want your neighbor's new convertible, you feel envy. If she takes your husband for a ride, you feel jealous.

There is nothing good that can come out of jealousy and envy; both of them are sins. When we feel jealous and envious of something, we need to remind ourselves that God is our provider and the source of opportunities. We can be content with what God has for us at the moment and trust the Lord. Let us be thankful always so that we can appreciate God's current provision for us. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I struggle with jealousy and envy? What are the things that I need to do to avoid being jealous and envy? Why is it important to always be thankful and trusting God? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive me if I have been jealous or envious of something. Please help me to be content and be thankful for all your provisions. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.