Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Genesis 37:18
Jealousy is seeing what someone else has and having an extreme desire to have it for self. People often wonder why someone else has something that they do not have. It allows jealousy to rise up in the heart and mind. If allowed to rise up enough, it can also cause a person to think and do things that are wrong.
Joseph had been honored by his father, Israel, and given special treatment. His brothers grew jealous and angry about the special treatment. When they saw him coming, out in a field, they came up with a plan to kill him.
Seeing someone getting special treatment or making it very well while one is struggling to survive is difficult. Selfishness and greed take over one’s mind and brings on jealousy. As that rises it can cause one to do whatever it takes to remove the one that the jealousy is over. It is an attempt to bring one to their level so that there is no real special treatment.
Although most people will not physically attempt to kill the one they are jealous about, most will wish the person were dead. Instead of murder, they might bring on slander and cutting down.
Believers are susceptible to jealousy just as the world is. Instead of being jealous of another, believers should rejoice that another is getting honored or blessed in incredible ways. Building others up is part of building God’s kingdom here on earth. Jealousy will tear down rather than build up.
As one builds up others it pushes jealousy out of the heart and mind and protects one from doing what is wrong.
Does someone else have something that you do not have, and you wish you had? Seeing that can cause a jealous heart to rise up within you. That jealous heart can bring on hatred and anger against the one you are seeing. Allow God’s love to permeate your heart and find ways to praise God that He has blessed someone else above the ways you are being blessed. Rejoice with the other person rather than allowing jealousy to rise up and lead you down a wrong path. Crush the jealousy before it crushes you in a life of sin and death.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal any jealousy in your heart; that you will love others as God loves them; and that you will rejoice with others when God blesses them greatly.
Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash
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