Beware of the Dangerous Cancer of Jealousy

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, January 26, 2022

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

1 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV)

The following story is found in Moody’s Anecdotes:  

“There is a fable of an eagle, which could outfly another, and the other didn’t like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him: “I wish you would bring down that eagle.” The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some feathers to put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but didn’t quite reach the rival eagle; it was flying too high. The envious eagle pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many that he couldn’t fly, and then the sportsman turned around and killed him. My friend, if you are jealous, the only man you can hurt is yourself.” (Page 44-45).

There is Jealousy and Quarreling among You

Jealous is a feeling of fear and insecurity over perceived lack of something that another person appears to have. It has a supporting cast comprising vulnerability, insufficiency, disgust, bitterness and anger.

Christians must be careful not to succumb to jealousy. Paul addressed this problem in the Corinthian church when he wrote, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Corinthians 3:3).

Jealousy among Believers

Paul rebuked jealousy in the church and taught that it was an indication of believers being carnal and not spiritual. If professed Christians were envious and quarrelsome, they were not different from those who had not known Jesus.

Do we have jealous eagles in the modern church? Yes. The competition to be a better preacher, singer and teacher is rife. We quarrel over church positions and feel bitter when others get what we feel we deserve.

Addictive Jealousy Everywhere

In workplaces, gossip and false allegations are the tools of jealous people. The competition for top positions can result in emotional and physical harm to others. In romantic relationships, people even kill to get even with those who outdo them.

Unfortunately, jealousy is addictive and harmful to the green-eyed party. Like the envious eagle, the jealous person uses his resources without wisdom and soon realizes he is the one losing and suffering.

The Cancer of Jealousy

Jealousy is a cancer that eats up the vessel in which it is stored. According to Solomon, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30). In addition, “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.” (Job 5:2).

Focusing on and feeling bitter about the perceived progress of another party is detrimental to your health. We must realize that God blesses people differently. No one possesses everything. We need one another. Therefore, jealousy makes no sense.

Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain

When Satan tempts us to be jealous, let us remember Paul’s timeless counsel, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Loving Father, I know jealousy is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I develop the fruit of the Spirit.