Jealousy
Here are a few signs of jealousy.
Are you jealous of others?
Jealousy was the motive for first murder. Genesis 4:3-8 – "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”
1 John 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
Jealousy is the enemy of contentment, and causes us to lose the joy that we should have in the life God has given to us.
Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Do you fell pain in your heart when you see someone else getting blessed?
Does it bother you when someone else gets a new car, and yours is always in the garage?
Or someone gets a great job with high pay and you only get bills and you are always on the overdraft at the bank?
Does it bother you when someone gets more attention than you do?
Jealousy is a hidden, often unmentioned, but dangerous sin.
Cain and Abel grew up in world where there was not a lot of sin.
Life was simple. Not a lot of pressure or temptations existed.
I am sure they loved each other and helped each other and lived in relative harmony. Even in this safe environment, jealousy grew up in Cain’s heart.
Cain didn’t get the acknowledgement that Able got. In spite of God’s explanation Cain allowed jealous to grow in his heart. He finally even killed Abel because of his great anger.
You may never kill anyone, but understand, if we allow jealousy to stay in our hearts, it will cause us to become angry and eventually to hate, and we will hurt others, but we also hurt ourselves. We will speak against them.
We will become negative towards others. Jealousy will control our behavior, and eventually our lives. Proverbs 27:4 "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?”