“A tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.”
It has been said that jealousy kills love under the pretense of keeping it alive. Both in friendships and romantic relationships, jealousy is deadly, yet we don’t seem to try to avoid it. The Bible says that Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, nor proud. So, jealousy is not a component of biblical love.
Since that is the case, why do we tolerate it? Why do we dismissively say, “oh, he (or she) is just a little jealous”… as though it is a minor condition with no consequences? It is not minor it is dangerous and is capable of injuring both parties. Envy is not a byproduct of loving others, it comes from an inordinate amount of self-love and it can destroy its target as well as the vessel that carries it.
If you love someone you should be their biggest fan… But if you feel resentment at their success or popularity it is not because you love them, it is because you love you… and have allowed your affection to become controlling and self-centered. This verse says jealousy is a lethal condition that causes my bones to rot… That is a graphic description which in the original Hebrew, means “it ain’t good for me”.
Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate and make sure you have not allowed this “Trojan Horse” with all its poison, into your heart. If you have, get rid of it.
God is love. The only way you can love others is to fill your heart with Jesus and let His love splash out on those around you … If your value is found in The Lord, if Christ meets all your needs… then you can love others without resentment. Nothing should bless you more than the success of those you love. Since you are deeply cherished by the Creator of all things – how can you possibly be jealous of anyone or anything?
If you grasp this concept, you will bring life and light into any room you enter… Miss it, and you will suck the energy out of any space you occupy. Jealousy and Love can’t live together – they share no trait, and there is not room for both in your heart.
“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.”
- William Penn
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