Have you ever experienced envy and jealousy either from yourself to others or others to you? In reading these (7) seven Bibical scriptures, if be true, it seems to be war! What should one do if they find themselves a victim of another(s) envy and jealousy? Or, if you find yourself trying to harm others because of your envy and jealousy? It seems to be one harms them selves greatly when they are jealous and envious of others.
Please help me break down these verses one by one into life changing for individuals, and groups of people.
“Song of Solomon 8:6 – Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.
Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
James 3:14-15 – But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Psalm 37:1-3 – Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
James 3:16 – For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Proverbs 14:30 – A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
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Psalm 37:1-3 that being #5 of the 7…I shared my thoughts and blog with my husband and he started me thinking on this scripture in response to all but especially #5…”For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down. Psalm 75:8
If one follows the thread for the eye of the needle (storm) in the seven it surely rates as catastrophic. #7 rotten bones, #6 every vile practice, #5 we covered in above verse, #4 demonic, #3 &2 deal with pride and arrogance and #1 gives us a picture of the deadly body grave and the soul on fire.
I think wise to give myself a test and see where I rate? Am I grateful to God and thankful for the gifts they give or do I think I deserve just a tad bit more? Am I happy for another’s happiness or do I scorch my skin by giving another the praise they gave me from my arrogant perch which is a blind fold of darkness? Am I non verbal so I can pout and rot my bones? Do I sit and roll my eyes and shrug my shoulders showing the demonic of James 3.
Communication check for each day may just reveal my score and fate!
My friend from SC gave this; “People may not always tell you how they feel about you, but they will always show you. Pay attention!”
This made me think of what I have often heard : “actions speak louder then words”.
“Have you ever experienced envy and jealousy either from yourself to others or others to you?”
Yes, I am more aware that it came from me than from someone else directed at me. I think those feelings sprang from ingratitude, pride, selfish ambition…all evil and all the opposite of love…all just “I”. And as Ruth Paxson, author of “Life on the Highest Plane” describes, “We each of us know what a hydra-headed monster that old “I” is.”
Sara asks, “Please help me break down these verses one by one into life changing for individuals, and groups of people.”
“Song of Solomon 8:6 – Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.”
This says to me that jealousy (which defined says: “occurs when a person lacks another’s superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.”) buries you alive…eventually puts you in a pit of despair and will lead to hell on earth and hell forever. Again, I believe Ruth Paxson clearly describes the results of having envy and jealousy and it’s related cohorts: “…envy becomes slander; ambition arms itself for war; selfishness grows into oppression; and jealousy attempts to end its torment in suicide or homicide.”
“1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.”
An online definition I read says: “Wanting what someone else has and resenting them for having it is envy.”
“Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
That says to me that “I” cannot be in the center of my universe or on a throne. Pride will lead to destruction.
“James 3:14-15 – But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
This says to me that how could I have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition and say or think that I am a Christian?
“Psalm 37:1-3 – Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”
Doing evil will come back on my head and I will wither and eventually die if I don’t repent and change.
“James 3:16 – For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
If I see disorder or confusion occuring, I should look for the root cause …jealousy or selfish ambition.
“Proverbs 14:30 – A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
This is a very serious consequence of envy.
Sara said: “It seems to be one harms them selves greatly when they are jealous and envious of others.”
I would agree 100%. The consequences will catch up to the sin of this.
I just read in my pm devotional by Sarah Young the following: “As you lean on Me in trusting dependence, you feel peaceful and complete.”
I think this goes with “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness”, and “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh” above.
I believe God’s Word is instructing us to rid ourselves of all or any jealousy and envy. Excellent scripture for me to reflect on as I start my day.
Debi and Tammy, great dialogue. It has been often noted that holidays can be stressful and may just bring out the authentic (negative as well as positive) self in us. So often as Christians we don’t really cherish that we have been called to dance and sing on key and in tune and in step while others like the image of someone with one too many drinks sing and dance off the Biblical steps. Yes, those steps are in the book. (Galatians 5:19-20)
It seems like a mute point in my thinking that Psalm 37 (above) would have to tell me as a Christian not to fret over or be envious over a wrongdoer! Evidently not, since I find myself doing a bit of fretting!
If I, as a believer, would stop wanting a ‘Holiday photo scene’ showing weather, house, family, friends and enemies in perfect harmony sitting around an open fire roasting chestnuts which only shows a lack in my life (envy and jealousy) I would be so beautiful, joyful, and spiritual! Why? I would be spending my God given gift of time using my gifts and talents to serve and be in relationship with others that are in the family of God.
I’m with Tammy I have a lot to think about as I start my day.
Sara, your ‘Holiday photo scene’ description sure says it’s not a photo I think I want developed. Sounds like what you wrote in your blog ” it seems to be war!” Made me go back and read this from James 4.
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.You adulterers!Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” whoa.
Wow this this is a heartfull to think about. The first thing that I thought of when I read the question of ”jealousy & envy” is the scripture…. in 1Cor 4:6-7, ”
And these things, brethren, I have transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren’t a gift?”
As if it were by all your own intelligence, talent, knowledge that you can do this or that? If we acknowledge that what someone has or can do is ONLY through the auspices of the Holy Spirit, God Almighty, then why should we be jealous, because only GOD decides who gets what gift and why and how and when.
And the Scripture written above in the challenge…”jealousy is as fierce as the grave. This is proven in Genesis when because of jealousy, Cain murdered his brother Abel.
If jealousy is unrepented of the Bible tells us what will happen: In Hebrews 12: 14-15 it reads, “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many”
The Root of Bitterness in the soul is a most stubborn of sins. The Scripture says not only does it defile the person and those against whom he/she holds animosity but it spreads out over many people….because it the scripture reads MANY will be defiled.
Defilement is a filthyness of the soul. You cannot live a holy life with a root of bitterness in your soul. You [we] cannot see God if we are not holy. Neither here on earth can we truly experience God [no matter how many experiences we say or think or pretend we have with the Living God].and surely not after we die.
This almost makes me cry because many feel they are The Root of Bitterness in the soul is a most stubborn of sins. The Scripture says not only does it defile the person and those against whom he/she holds animosity but it spreads out over many people….because it the scripture reads MANY will be defiled.
Defilement is a filthyness of the soul. You cannot live a holy life with a root of bitterness in your soul. You [we] cannot see God if we are not holy. Neither here on earth can we truly experience God [no matter how many experiences we say or think or pretend we have with the Living God].and surely not after we die.
This almost makes me cry because many feel they are justified in their holding within their hearts these feelings of anger or bitterness because of what someone else has or is doing or touting before them. It is neither correct nor righteous to envy a fellow Christian or even an unbeliever. The Bible says to fret not yourselves over the success of the heathen or the unbelievers. And to speak out against a brother or sister or a minister of the Living God is sin and as you defile your fellow believer, yourself and his/her ministry….which equals the defilement of many.
Sara this is such a HUGE Teaching and Lesson….to be contd. Thank you!!
I read in Benjamin Baruch’s book, ”You Shall Know the Truth” that the spirit of envy is the spirit of Jezebel in the church …”set on fire by the very fires of hell in the heart….burning in envy….” Wanting what she and/or that spirit cannot have. Debi pointed out in James that we war after things we cannot have and in the envy and jealousy we murder to get what we want. I think it’s not just physical murder although that does happen more often than we think…. but also spiritual murder where we vanquish a person’s reputation who is more successful than ours, or defile their ministry because it’s bigger than ours or the Lord is moving greatly in that ministry or church.
We cover our tongues with the precious blood of the Lamb of God. No evil shall come from those who truly are in intimate relationship with the Lord so that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with doctrines of demons, and sins of envy, jealousy and acquisition..in Jesus’ Name.
MG, I understand the story of Jezebel and Ahab as recorded in scripture. Not sure I understand your overall comments. Are you saying you are involved in wanting someone else’s ministry because they have one bigger than you. And, you need to stop talkng about people you don’t even know. Or, are you accusing others of wanting yours? Sorry, a little confusing.
No, I am not involved in wanting someone else’s ministry if that is what you are indicating. I am not talking about someone else’s ministry. Nor am I speaking against someone else’s ministry. I hope that it would have been understood that I was addressing the issue of jealousy …the theme of this particular blog and as jealousy is allowed to remain in the Body of Christ it appears as a divisive and destructive tool of the enemy.
I was merely pointing out and addressing the questions you were asking about jealousy. I noticed that Ben Baruch pointed out that the spirit of Jezebel is the spirit of envy of which the Lord spoke of in the Book of Revelation. Jesus indicated that the spirit of Jezebel in the church at Thyatira grieved Him and He warned them about allowing her [it] to remain and to cast her out. The root of the Jezebel spirit is jealousy. That was all I was pointing out. That spirit leads to division, gossip, rumor, envy, strife among the brethren and must be repented of.
MG, thanks for clarifying your message and references to Benjamin Baruch’s book. He made great points?
We have many printed books and online info on all Bibical subjects but hard to find one to connect to on a personal level that will involved themselves in an individual’s life. Solomon in his great Ecclesiastical instructions gave us a word photo never to be forgotten. Read and paint the scene from Solomon’s words, Eccl.:12:12
I am looking to hear from ones that have suffered as to the first questions asked in blog. Debi has experienced part of the complex question being jealous at times in her life. She gave a beautiful testimony to this. Now, I would like to hear how ones that has suffered from having others jealous of them? How did you personally handle this situation?
“Support, encouragement, accountability.” Says life coach, Julianna…So very often, seemly more often than not, I have observed that when I, or others that I know, want to move, grow, change the first two of our quoted three are high jumps and off we go and “fall flat on our face”. The air is in the two much like helium but without the third ingredient flying is not an option. Can you name the third ingredient?
I believe that would be ‘accountability’ according to the three the life coach listed.
Looking up the definitions for the word, I found a business dictionary one that seemed to state that accountability involves someone other than yourself. “The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner.”
So, I would say it would be personal responsibility that is answerable to the ones that support and encourage.
In designating one to whom you will be accountable, it’s necessary to watch your choices. If that person is too lenient you might find yourself on a slippery slope. On the other hand, if the that person is strictly by the law, you might find yourself in a ‘religious bind or at least box,” Sometimes it’s touchy. Over-zealous people are sometimes discouraging. The less law-conscious people might dismiss those things that should be repented of and put under self-control How do you choose? Check out their fruit. If they are fruitful in their walk with the Lord, they’ve got to have some kind of godly wisdom from whom you can learn and grow.
Now….try to find a Christian with good fruit.