Jealousy is insidious. Sadly, jealousy is alive and well among the "religious". In my devotions this morning I ran across an account where Paul and Barnabas are preaching in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch: "On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying." Acts 13:44,45. Later in the passage it says that the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas.
Have you ever had someone, or a group of people, jealous of you? Individuals who, no matter what, are constantly opposed to you? You say, "white" they say "black"; you say, "black" they say "white"; you say "gray" they say, "this isn't about color". They are what are referred to nowadays as, "haters". Well the Pharisees were "haters", they were jealous of Jesus and His transformational movement. Over and over again the Pharisees true colors come out: nitpicking what the disciples were doing (Mat. 12:2), questioning motives (Mat. 9:11), trying to trap Jesus (Mat. 22:15), making demands of Him (Mat. 12:38), false friendship (Luke 13:31), eventually murdering Him (John 19:6)... What was motivating all of this? Jealousy. Note John 12:18-19, "Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
The Pharisees had a pretty good thing going there. They were top dog on the spiritual ladder. They had their religious system set up exactly the way they wanted it; and this Jesus and His followers were going to upset the apple cart. The last thing the Pharisees wanted was Jesus gaining followers and changing the whole system. Rather than getting on board with what God was doing among them, they chose to allow their jealousy and hatred for Jesus to destroy themselves and many of the people around them as well. Unfortunately, we will be seeing them, and the people they led to hell at the great white throne judgment.
Jealousy may seem small but it has the potential to lead to very unhealthy behaviors and serious consequences.
Jealousy makes me think of lies. Something so small can destroy so much, all because someone can't handle the truth.
ReplyDeleteI've seen jealousy so strong it eats away at people until they no longer know what is the truth and what is a lie. It will consume some people like a cancer. Instead of being jealous, be happy and glad for the person or persons.
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