JEALOUSY AS A STRONGHOLD

Text: Gen 4:1-12, Gen 37:1-11, 1 Sam 16-22

Jealousy is covetousness, distrust, envy, heart-burning, mistrust, possessiveness, resentment, spite and suspicion. The jealous individual definitely harbours a feeling of hatred against a rival or those more fortunate than himself. It could also be interpreted as a lack of trust in God and His divine purpose. It’s an act of selfish desire and evidence of an insecure and ungrateful heart.

Stronghold is the work of the flesh and once it permeates into one’s system, it may be difficult to break away with. It is likened to a bondage which may dominate and rule over an individual’s life.

Jealousy must be avoided and broken away from.

Why Are People Jealous?

From the definition of jealousy above, people are jealous or may be jealous when they are not satisfied with their lot. When they compare themselves with other people that appear more fortunate than them, they become envious of such people’s achievements, position, wealth or resources.

The Bible says in Psalm 139 v 14 “ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.

When God created you, He did not compare you with anybody. You are unique, you are an individual made for specific divine purpose, an entity before Him and with Him. God does not expect you to be comparing yourself with somebody else. Doing so is a sin; it implies that you are not satisfied with your creator and the way He created you with your endowments. Be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. Be like Christ. Your standard or your reference should be Jesus Christ. You have no reason whatsoever to be comparing yourself with someone else. Let us consider those who at one time or the fell to the stronghold of jealousy in the Bible.

We will consider Cain , King Saul and Joseph’s brothers.

Cain’s Jealousy of Abel

Cain in Genesis 4:1-2 was the first son of Adam and Eve and the elder brother of Abel. Cain and Abel offered offering to God and God looked with favour on Abel and offering, but God did not look with favour on Cain and his offering. He became angry and jealous of his brother, Abel. He invited his brother out to the field and there he attacked and killed him.

Instead of Cain to make amends by offering what would be acceptable to God to secure the favour of God, he compared himself with Abel, became jealous and eventually became a murderer and a lair.

This made God to curse him. Gen 4:11-12; the Lord said; “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth”. Jealousy can turn you a liar and a murderer. Avoid it completely.

Joseph’s brothers’ Jealousy of Joseph Gen 37: 1-11

Joseph was most loved by his father, Jacob. He also had a dream twice which was interpreted to mean people will bow down for him. These made his brothers to hate him and be jealous of him. They planned evil for him and eventually sold him into slavery. Jealousy led them to this; they had no intention of seeing him again. They wished evil for but God turned it to good for Joseph. Gen 37:11 “His brothers were jealous of him”.

Are you jealous of your relatives? Jealousy does not do anybody any good. It can only make you a sinner, make you to be heartless, wicked and a planner of evil. Do not be envious of anybody. You are fearful and wonderfully made and you are very special and unique in the hand of God.

King Saul’s Jealousy of David 1 Sam 16-22

From the very day Samuel anointed David as king, the spirit of the Lord came upon him. Because God was with David he was able to kill Goliath the Philistine who had been terrorizing Saul’s army. As soon as the news went round that small David killed giant Goliath, the women in Israel trooped out to dance and sing as in 1^st Sam 18:7

“Saul has slain his thousand and David his tens of thousands”.

When Saul heard this song, he thought David would capture His kingdom from him and from that time on, he kept a jealous eye on David.

Instead of King Saul to appreciate David for killing Goliath who terrorized his army, he became jealous of David and this led him to plan to kill David.

Also because David was always successful in any assignment given to him, Saul became more jealous. When Saul realized that his daughter Michal, whom he wanted to use as bait if given to David as a wife, sincerely and genuinely loved David, Saul became jealous the more. He also became sad and sorrowful. To crown it all, Jonathan his son was David’s good friend and when he discovered this, his sorrow multiplied and he became angry with Jonathan.

Saul spent part of his life time planning and re-planning how to kill David, he was not able to. His jealousy for David turned him to a murderer. Out of jealousy for David he ordered his guards to kill those who were on the side of David even the Priests of the Lord.

Jealousy can make you a sadist, a time waster and a murderer. I pray you will not allow this stronghold to have a hold on you and dominate your life.

Jealousy can make you incur the wrath of God.

Prayer

Father, I praise and thank you because you wonderfully and fearfully made me. I also thank you because I am unique and special in your hand. I pray that you grant me the grace to appreciate that I am a unique being, made for specific purpose by you and to use my endowments to your glory in Jesus name. (Amen)