The Sin We Like to Ignore - Jealousy

Whether it is seen in the life of a person in the Bible or mentioned in a book of wisdom, there are many verses which show the dangers of jealousy. 

Job 5:2 “Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.”

These words come from Eliphaz, a friend of Job who came to try and comfort the titular individual. Though Job’s friends gave bad advice at times and misunderstood God’s divine purpose in Job’s life and tragedies, they would sometimes state truths. Here, Eliphaz points out that being jealous and vexed by things not going your way is irritating and only makes life harder. Life becomes bitter and destructive.

1 Corinthians 3:3 “For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

Here, Paul addressed the issues springing up at the church in Corinth. They were known  for their fleshly behavior, not in a Christ-like manner. Here, early in the epistle, Paul criticizes jealousy amongst them. The wealthy separated themselves from the poor, and they indulged in other dividing behaviors that stemmed from resenting others. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

In this famous verse, Paul shows the Corinthian church what love, one of the feelings and states of being that is virtuous and godly, is. This verse also shows what jealousy is not. The English Standard Version translation uses the word envy. Love is not envious or jealous. Resentful feelings - which can lead to rejoicing at wrongdoing against others or when bad things happen to others - are not Christ-like. Jealousy drives many of the behaviors that Paul states love is not.

James 3:14-16 “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambitions exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

The writer makes it clear that jealousy breeds bad feelings and unhealthy group dynamics. Because one feels entitled to something someone else possesses, it leads to acting out. Jealousy can also lead to lies, trying to give impressions to compensate or inspire that feeling in others, furthering the sin. By contrast, wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit drives out feelings like jealousy. 

Proverbs 14:30 “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

This verse highlights the long-term effects of nursing a jealous spirit. It consumes the individual who is indulging in it. The individual living in contentment is shown to have life, whereas the one who lives with their desire for another’s possessions and successes is being destroyed internally.

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Jealousy is present from Genesis to Revelation. It often plays a key role in driving the drama and causing divisions through several prominent Biblical narratives.    

Cain

The first murder committed was motivated by jealousy. In Genesis 4:1-16, Cain’s sacrifice to God was not acceptable, where his brother Abel’s was. God clarifies to Cain that he did not give his first and his best to God, and his motivations were not correct. Rather than changing his attitude and giving his best to God, Cain embraced his jealousy, and murdered his brother.

Joseph’s 10 Older Brothers

Generations after Cain, jealousy continued to drive wicked intentions. Jacob had twelve sons from four different women, but only two were from his favorite wife Rachel. Jacob gave one of those sons, Joseph, a special coat, which began inspiring jealousy in his older sons. Joseph would go on to give a bad report of his brothers to Jacob, and would also have prophetic dreams of his brothers bowing to him. Eventually his brothers beat him and sold him into slavery. This story is recounted in Genesis 37.

Saul

Much of 1 Samuel 15-31 recounts the interactions between King Saul, and the future king - the young David. Though Saul had been a good king at first, he began to disobey God, and the Lord had the prophet Samuel anoint David. As time progressed, Saul became bitter over the love others had towards the shepherd boy, and tried to kill him on several occasions. By contrast, Saul’s son Jonathan - who human logic would say should be jealous that David would become king and not himself - loved David, and they were close friends. 

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In the Catholic church and within some other denominations, there is a list of seven deadly sins. These are: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. These can be compared to the seven heavenly virtues, which are prudence, justice, temperance, courage (or fortitude), faith, hope, and charity.

While jealousy is one of the famous seven deadly sins, this list of sins does not exist as a comprehensive list in one passage of Scripture. Rather, it was a list condensed by Pope Gregory I in the sixth century. In Proverbs, there is a list of six things the Lord hates, “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19). While many of these behaviors can be driven by jealousy, it is not directly addressed here. 

Such lists of sinful behavior exist in several of the epistles as well, where Paul will list things God hates or ungodly characteristics, and contrast them with things God loves, and godly traits. An example would include Galatians 5:19-21 compared with Galatians 5:22-23, which contrast the works of the flesh with the fruits of the spirit. However, jealousy is not listed as an unpardonable sin in the Bible. For those struggling with jealousy, as with all sins, there is grace through Jesus Christ.

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Jealousy is an easy sin to slip into. It is easy to look around at what others have, or perhaps what one does not have, and feel that things ought to be different. Sometimes what someone is jealous for may be something they feel they deserve, like a prize, recognition for hard work, or better circumstances.

The Bible regularly warns of the dangers of feeling this way; instead, a lifestyle of contentment is encouraged, which is defined as, “satisfaction; ease of mind.” Finding peace and acceptance in what God has given leads to a deeper relationship with the Lord, because the individual is not looking towards something to fill an unfulfilled desire, but is fulfilled by that relationship.

Some verses to encourage feelings of contentment include:

2 Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Philippians 4:11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have for [the Lord Jesus] has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

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If you find yourself struggling with the sin of jealousy, take some time to pray and ask God for contentment.

Holy Father, thank you for the life that I have. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die in my place, and that I can have a relationship with you because of it. Lord, sometimes I struggle with feelings of jealousy towards others, and I want things I do not have. I ask that You would teach me to be content with today, and what You have given me. You know what I need for today and tomorrow, and the world is in Your hands. I ask that you help me be grateful for my present circumstances. Help me to focus on You, rather than the thing for which I am jealous. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

For more verses on contentment, click here.

Sources

Kendall, R.T. The Sin No One Talks about (jealousy). United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton, 2011.

Stanley, Charles F. Landmines in the Path of the Believer: Avoiding the Hidden Dangers. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Photo credit: Unsplash/ Naassom Azevedo 

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry.