You know the feeling—the jolt of recognition. Could it be? You inhale. Why, that’s so-and-so from high school! She grew her hair out, and now she’s a blonde! Somehow, the Internet has made it possible for you to contact her. But, should you open that door? How would it make your wife feel? Recent studies show that one popular social website may be “fueling wild flights of jealous investigation, as users in relationships . . . scramble to find evidence of a partner’s unfaithful thoughts or behavior.”
The Bible says jealousy is even more dangerous than anger and wrath (Proverbs 27:4). It’s hazardous because it stokes our cravings for worldly things and our desires for others, rather than for God. Left unchecked, it may even take us away from Him.
Jealousy brought Rachel to a state of desperation. After she and her sister Leah married the same guy, Leah had several babies. When Rachel realized she couldn’t have kids, “she became jealous of her sister” (Genesis 30:1). Desperate for an infant of her own, she issued this ultimatum to Jacob: Give me children, or I’ll die!
Things went from bad to worse. The baby tally was three to zip with Leah in the lead, when Rachel said to Jacob, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me” (Genesis 30:3). When the hired help birthed two sons, Rachel commented: “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” (Genesis 30:8)—evidence that jealousy breeds competition.
We can guard against jealousy. Fortunately, we don’t have to squelch our strong desires; we just have to redirect them toward God. When we can say to Him, “I desire You more than anything on earth” (Psalm 73:25), jealousy will not rule our relationships.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 27:1-10
More:
Read James 3:14-16 to see the link between jealousy and selfishness. Read Acts 13:45 to see how jealous people opposed the spread of the gospel.
Next:
How might jealousy ruin relationships? How does knowing that “love is not jealous” change your thinking about the people in your life?
newbeginner on September 23, 2011 at 2:15 am
hmmm….. i wonder why God seems to ‘agree’ with and supporting this baby-wanting-competition (verse 6, 17-18)
anybody can help me with this?
bafil on September 23, 2011 at 8:02 am
Dear newbeginner, do you think God is agreeing with the competition or giving Rachel the freedom to choose between:
1) drawing closer in her heartache to God, who is willing to give her more love than Jacob ever did
or
2) trying to prove her importance to her worldly God- her husband by taking part in the competition
God always stayed close to Rachel it was Jacob whose affections changed,
I believe faith in God is the ultimately a matter of choice.
God wants to connect, but we have to chose
jennifer benson schuldt on September 23, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Hi there newbeginner!
Scripture tells us that God never tempts anyone to do wrong (James 1:13), and so I don’t think God is agreeing with and supporting the baby-wanting competition here.
Rather, I think this situation is a demonstration of God’s grace. Here’s what I mean. Even though the motives of Rachel and Leah were wrong, God was still gracious to the family by providing many children—especially sons, which were culturally significant at that time.
The story also shows the danger of dangling God’s blessings in front of each other–this only promotes hurt feelings, competition, and desires for what we do not have.
newbeginner on September 24, 2011 at 2:03 am
Helo folks…..
thanks for sharing some insights…. learn a lot from this forum and the devo itself….
it’s an amazement to learn how God works even in this situation and see how jealousy does, specially in me (my reflection on this devo quite painful). but praise the Lord for His mercy and truth that set us all free…..
thank again folks for the insight 🙂
live4uonly on September 23, 2011 at 8:43 am
Newbeginner, the bible says that Leah had more kids that Rachel because Rachel was loved more than Leah. Genesis 29: 28-31. God saw that and so he opened Leah’s womb and closed Rachel’s womb. But after Leah conceived her fifth child, God remembered Rachel and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22
eppistle on September 23, 2011 at 9:15 am
Though we should guard against succumbing to unwarranted jealousy, we should also guard against causing warranted jealousy. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people” Ephesians 5:3. If in doubt that something’s appropriate, don’t go there.
jennifer benson schuldt on September 23, 2011 at 10:45 am
Eppistle, great point. I’m reminded of Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians: “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands.”
It’s good to live in a way that does not provoke others to jealousy. Leading a “quiet life” seems like a step in the right direction.
OnMyWayHome on September 23, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Quiet as I may be some feel that I am showing off or that I am a ‘Know-It-All’. I study to learn to know my trade and use it to help others, yet am confused when I’m told the above.
As to the above scripture this one has always got me as to why it was allowed. Yet I am not from that time and era or culture as well.
As to jealousy it does not bear fruit.
But I am guilty as well.
daisymarygoldr on September 23, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Good post and discussion Jennifer and all! “quiet life” reminds me of the wise guy who “observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind… Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4: 4-6
Agree, we must not provoke others to jealousy. But Leah did not do anything to cause Rachel’s jealousy. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved by Jacob, He enabled her to have children. Seeing her sister’s blessing aroused jealousy in Rachel. She was not content with the blessing of her husband’s love which Leah did not have.
God has blessed each and every one of us in some special way. Instead of being content with what we have, our sinful nature makes becomes jealous over the apparent blessings of others. Jealousy can destroy one’s mental health, destroy families, and destroy the unity of the church. Since we are living by the Spirit, we should not provoke others, or be jealous of one another (Gal 5:25-26)
jennifer benson schuldt on September 23, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Good points daisymarygoldr. I like the idea that God has blessed each of us in different ways. The story of Leah and Rachel demonstrates this. As a way to offset jealousy, it’s worth our time to “count our blessings” as the song goes. This week, when I feel jealousy tweak my soul, I’m going to try to focus on a blessing God has given me, instead of the object that thing I wish I had.