Saturday, January 29, 2011

Jealousy Destroys

"When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying." -- Acts 13:45

"But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city."

-- Acts 17:5a

The Jews were certainly not happy with Paul. It was bad enough that someone who had once been a rising star in the rabbi world, had accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. But here he was preaching the gospel and people were listening. The crowds were excited. They were converting to christianity. Oh, yes, the Jews were really upset.

The Jewish leaders probably wouldn't have cared if no one had paid attention to Paul. They would have laughed it off. But they couldn't dismiss the crowds who came out day after day to hear Paul. Nor could they hide their jealousy. People didn't turn out like that to hear the Jewish leaders. So the Jews did what jealous people do -- they tried to destroy Paul and those who were helping him spread the good news.

Many of us have been on the receiving end of someone else's jealousy. A jealous person views you as a rival and, whether true or not, their only wish is to destroy. It doesn't matter if it's a relationship, job promotion or happiness. They'll take it away from you out of jealousy and spite. Jealousy has destroyed many families and many friendships.

Jealous people are enemies -- both of you and themselves. They allow their own insecurities to direct their lives. They view you as a threat when their greatest threat is actually themselves. They don't care if they destroy themselves while they're destroying you. They don't even see that part. They just want to cut you down so that they can feel better about themselves.

I pity jealous people. They really can't like themselves too much or they wouldn't be so insecure. That's where jealousy comes from. Insecurity. It comes when someone believes that the only way they can get people to notice them and approve of them, is if they cut you down. It's sad but also true.

Don't let a jealous person suck you into that destructive path. Stand firm and refuse to be less than who you are just so they can feel like they are more than who they are. Trust in God and pray for the jealous people in your life. Perhaps their eyes will open and they will see that they're on the wrong path. Maybe they'll reach out to God and turn away from their bitterness and unhappiness. Show them that life can be different when you shed your insecurities and jealousy and focus Jesus' gift to everyone.