October 9, 2023
Melissa Valerio
According to Merriam-Webster, “jealous” has three definitions:
- hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage: ENVIOUS
- intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness
- vigilant in guarding a possession
When I think about jealousy, I can totally see how the first two definitions have come into play in our society. Usually, we think of jealousy as unfairness or wanting something that somebody else has. Covetousness or envy would be the more proper term. But it’s interesting that being jealous is a trait that God possesses. It’s a shame that we, as humans, have taken a beautiful attribute of God and turned it into a sin. But God’s jealousy isn’t an envious kind, it’s a righteous kind. He doesn’t covet what somebody else has, as we like to do. But He is jealous for what belongs to Him, you and me. Jealousy can lead people to act in ways that are harmful to themselves and others. Take Cain for example. Because he was jealous of God’s approval of his brother, Abel, he burned with such rage that he killed his own brother. Genesis 4:1-16 describes how Cain became bitter after God recognized Abel’s offering as acceptable, and his own as unacceptable. He felt that he should have gotten the “attaboy” pat on the head, just as his brother did. We too can fall into the trap of feeling that we’ve been cheated. We feel we deserve more than what we currently have, or we feel we’ve worked as hard as the next person, yet they get further ahead in life than us, and we are still stuck in the same circumstance, at the same job, with the same family, with the same problems. It breeds an ungrateful heart, refusing to allow us to be content with where God has us right now.
That’s how we’ve taken an attribute of God and turned it into a dishonoring mindset. But it’s not so with God’s jealousy. Jesus had such a zeal for His Father that He overturned the tables in the temple and drove out those that were cheating the Lord (Mark 11:15-18). God’s jealousy is His zeal to preserve something that is precious to Him. His name, His glory, His kingdom, His purposes, and even His children. His jealousy is right and full of truth. Let’s use Jesus as the example. Instead of a fire burning inside of us to have something somebody else has, let’s use that emotion for the Lord and burn for His righteousness. Jealousy is in us no matter what. It’s how we were made and part of our humanity. It’s not wrong, but it can be wrong in the way that we use it. Let’s be a people who, like Jesus, have zeal for the Lord and for His kingdom purposes.
Prayer: Infinite God, thank You for Your jealousy for us. Because You love us so deeply, You did the unfathomable — came to Earth and died on the cross to purchase back what already belonged to You. Teach us to have the same zeal for You and Your Kingdom. Without a burning desire for Your righteousness, this world would fall apart. Thank You for saving us from sin. In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.
Action: Jealousy is a sin only when it’s used for selfish motives. Think about how jealous Jesus is for us. Because we were trapped in the grip of Satan, He bought us back with His blood — that is zeal in action. Think about what you can do for the zeal of the Lord. In what radical way can you show your love and devotion to the Kingdom? How can you be vigilant in showing His righteousness to the world?
image: freepik.com