Sin, when full-blown, produces destruction, tragedy and death (Gal. 5:19-21; James 1:14-15). So if you are envious or jealous, you may soon find yourself beset with undesirable, destructive emotions. You may adopt a judgmental attitude followed by hate. This leads to spiritual murder, character assassination and other sins against those of whom you are envious or jealous.
What Scripture Says
"A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones" (Proverbs 14:30)."...for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Cor. 3:3).
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practise such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast, and lie against the truth.... For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there" (James 3:14,16).
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
To Be Free
Salvation in Christ includes freedom from the bondage of sin (John 8:36). The baptism of the Holy Spirit opens your life to the abundance and gifts of God. The Holy Spirit produces the virtues and qualities of godliness in you, leaving no place for sin (Galatians 5:22,23).You have no reason to be envious. As a Christian, you are a "King's Kid," an heir to all that is Christ's. God has something better for you—more than you can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Worship God in praise. Focus your attention on Him (Colossians 3:14) rather than your own lack, which leads to envy and jealousy. Affirm that love now prevails in your life, and that jealousy and envy are dead (1 Corinthians 13:4). Affirm that honesty—not strife and envy—is allowing you to walk in God's love and light (Romans 13:13). Also affirm that from this moment, you will seek to walk in the Spirit where there is no provoking of one another and no envy (Galatians 5:25,26).
Rejoice and be glad when others are blessed or exalted. It pleases God and wins a friend (Romans 12:14-16). In due time, each of us will reap our blessings, if we don't faint and become weary in well-doing.
As You Pray
Pray for forgiveness of your envy/jealousy and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that you may know and experience the glory of God within you.Ask God to give you a vision of His glory and the ability to love and regard those of whom you have been envious and jealous.
Pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be produced within you (Galatians 5:22,23).
Suggested Reading
Search For Significance by Robert McGee, Telling Yourself The Truth by William Backus and Marie Chapian, The Secret Kingdom by Pat Robertson with Bob Slosser, and/or Prison To Praise by Merlin Carothers.As you read, list the way in which God would have you behave and begin practicing them. Discover God's best for you. Begin to note all the praiseworthy things about the one of whom you were envious or jealous. Share those things with that person. You will find a bond of love growing as you begin to see how God sees and loves that person.
Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
