Love Is Never Jealous
Monday March 16, 2020
Jealousy is a negative and damaging emotion. It’s the feeling we have when something we believe should be ours is given to someone else. We hold resentment against that person, believing we are more deserving of the status or success they have received. Jealousy also brings mistrust of that person. We may be jealous of someone’s attention towards someone we are in relationship with. This is often an expression of our own insecurity, but it is expressed in anger and jealousy. When God describes how to be loving people, He tells us that it never includes being jealous.
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5a CEV)
We often think an angry person is dangerous to be around, but the Bible tells us that a jealous person is even worse.
An angry person is dangerous, but a jealous person is even worse. (Proverbs 27:4 CEV)
We can fall into jealousy when we live in low self-esteem and begin to compare our lot with the lot of others. Sadness, loneliness, uncertainty and suspicion are all trap doors we don’t want to fall through and move towards jealousy. Control, co-dependency, and even violence (with words or actions) can also be expressions of jealousy.
And by all means don’t brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. (James 3:14-15 TLB)
God’s invitation to us today is to leave jealousy and selfishness behind and focus on kindness, patience, acceptance, and the honouring of others.
Prayer: Loving God, forgive me for the times I’ve lived with jealousy towards others. Help me to know my value in Your sight, trusting that You are working in me to build safe and life-giving relationships. Help me to honour and respect others. Help me to grow in my love for You and for others. Amen
©2020 Partners in Hope
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