Jealousy is not an emotion we speak of very often. However, we all have, at one time or another, (I’m being generous) been jealous. There are times when we simply state to someone, “I’m so jealous.” This really means that we’re happy for them. We’re talking about true jealousy in this post which can be defined as feeling resentment toward someone who appears to be more successful, or who has a greater advantage, or who has the life we would so want to have. None of us wake up and say, “Today, I think I’ll be jealous.” It isn’t something we strive for, but it happens. Let’s think about how it happens.

The beginning of our jealousy can come from something we hear or see. We observe another’s life and consider they have it better than we have. This produces a thought concerning the other person. The thought we have at this point can be harmless and be dismissed. It is when we don’t dismiss the thought, we get into trouble. The thought becomes intrusive, and we buy into what the thought is selling. The result is self-pity among other feelings, which all have to do with self. Therefore, jealousy begins in the mind. James warns us about jealousy in James 3:16, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” Let’s take a look at this warning.

Jealousy produces selfish ambition, a desire for me. This selfish ambition will tempt us to compare ourself with others. When we do this, we may say things like, “I’m not as bad as _____,” or “I’m better than her because ___________,” or “I wish I had what she has; she doesn’t even appreciate it,” or “Why does she have a perfect life?” The more we rehearse these types of statements, the more jealous we become. Paul warns us about comparing ourselves with others.

 “. . . But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” [2 Corinthians 10:12b.]

The result of jealousy can be disorder. James was writing this to believers in Jesus Christ. His warning is concerning jealousy among the brothers and sisters in Christ. If we allow jealousy in our hearts, then there will be disorder in our fellowship. This disorder affects our love for one another. We are called to love one another, believing the best of each other. When we allow jealousy to rule our hearts, we’ve disrupted our love within the body of Christ. Jesus speaks of this love in John 13.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:  just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” [John 13:34.]

The last warning James gives to us concerning jealousy is that it can lead to every vile practice. The word vile means wretchedly bad and highly offensive. This is the practice that continued jealousy can produce. We can become bitter by continuing to believe the intrusive thoughts about someone. This bitterness will overflow from our mouths in conversations, or be very apparent in our shunning of the one we’re jealous of, or can be the beginning of gossip about this person. These things are vile and will cause divisions in the Body of Christ. We are called to unity.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” [Psalm 133:1.]

So, what is our answer when those thoughts of jealousy come into our mind? We must reject them with truth. As followers of Christ, we have so much truth at our disposal about God, ourselves, and others. The Word of God is truth. We need to flood our mind with it. In Galatians 5, Paul uses three phrases to help us to hold onto truth. “Led by the Spirit.” “Walk by the Spirit.” “Live by the Spirit.” The common denominator in all of this is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us and will lead us into truth. We have to be willing to yield to his leading. The Holy Spirit will give us discernment of the Word so that we know the truth. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to allow our love for our brothers and sisters to overcome our jealousy.

Jealousy is a work of the flesh. We must fight against it in order to love well. Jesus gives us hope in his words before his arrest and crucifixion.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” [John 14:15-17.]