Where to turn when I’m... EATEN UP WITH JEALOUSY
Never before have we had more of an insight into each other’s lives. Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat allow us to be constantly drip fed a diet of everyone else’s life. Whilst we all know that it is only a highlight reel, and we are more than aware that most #authentic, #nofilter posts are so carefully curated as to be completely inauthentic, we still so quickly become green-eyed monster. Even those of us who keep as far from Social Media as possible fall into the traps of comparison: we always want what we don’t have. That relationship, those results, that career, those friends, that new iPhone. We are a generation of discontented, jealous people. What can we do to fight off this temptation?
Remember what entertaining the sin of jealousy will do to us personally.
Proverbs 14 v 30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
2. Don’t forget what further sins jealousy has pushed others to commit.
Genesis 37 (Joseph and his brothers); 1 Samuel 18 (Saul and David); Acts 17 (Paul and Silas and the Thessalonians)
3. Jealousy makes us focus on what is different about others. But we are simply called to follow.
John 21 v 19-22 - “Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
4. Have a right perspective of what we have on Earth and how finite it is.
1 Timothy 6 v 6-7 - “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
5. The secret to contentment lies in placing our focus on Christ.
Philippians 4 v 11-13 - “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
6. We have a Father who satisfies and gives good gifts – do we trust him in that?
Psalm 107 v 8-9 - “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Matthew 7 v 11 - “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
James 1 v 17 - “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
7. Peace and contentment will make us healthy and happy!
Proverbs 14 v 30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
