Jealousy is an emotion that virtually every person has experienced. Its sources are many and varied, ranging from envy of another person’s possessions to fear of a relationship changing or ending. By looking at what the Bible says about jealousy we can gain insight into how we can address and be free from it.
The Bible speaks about jealousy in a variety of contexts. In Proverbs, for instance, wisdom is used to address situations in which jealousy threatens to arise. We read that “a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Supporting the idea that unchecked emotions like jealousy can lead to physical and spiritual harm, we can understand this verse to be equipping us with the knowledge that taming jealousy brings peace.
Another significant text that speaks on jealousy is the Tenth Commandment, wherein God forbids coveting. We read in Exodus 20:17 that “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house—you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” In this commandment, we are handed a clear instruction to keep our desires in check and respect that which belongs to our neighbor. Through this act, jealousy can be kept at bay.
Being in tune with the needs of our inner self is also an important step in tackling jealousy. Deuteronomy 9:12 urges us to heed God’s command to choose life and live. By allowing ourselves to be conscious of the spiritual necessities, we are able to re-connect with our true life purposes and understand that at the core, we all share the same longing for life and achievement, devoid of the pointless discontent that often comes with jealousy.
The Bible speaks in various ways to the various situations that jealousy can create in our lives. In some cases, its approach is that of caution: “Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4). Other verses equate jealousy with idolatry and its consequences: “For envy and jealousy slay the simple” (Job 5:2). We can learn from these varying perspectives that jealousy will not lead us anywhere that is desirable for our mental and spiritual wellbeing.
In short, the Bible is quite clear in its warnings about allowing jealousy to take root in our lives. It speaks of envy’s destructiveness, warns us of its consequences, and equips us with wisdom on how to combat it. When studying what God has said about jealousy, it is important to recognize how heavily one-sided the attitude is: though it rarely serves us in any positive way. Given our spiritual purpose, jealousy can lead us away from the goal that we are meant to pursue.
Its Impact on Our Relationships
One aspect of our lives that often sees the negative impact of jealousy is our relationships. In relationships, feelings of envy and insecurity can lead to arguments, broken trust, and even violence. In Genesis 37:11, we read that Joseph’s brothers “hated him and could not speak a kind word to him,” a story that echoes the dangers of allowing jealousy to come between people. The Bible stresses throughout that allowing jealousy to overpower us damages relationships to an almost irreparable point One of the greatest commandments is to love one another, and jealousy’s presence in our hearts makes it incredibly difficult to fully open up to and feel love for those around us.
Although the Bible’s words don’t necessarily point to a single solution to our trials with jealousy, it does leave us with advice about how to begin the process of dealing with it. Its theme of wisdom reminding us not to allow our emotions to consume us and prevent us from forming healthy relationships with those around us.
We can look to the Lord to understand that our jealous feelings come from a place of discontent and we must use them as a sign to adjust our attitudes and perspectives on the situation. If we can manage to remain aware of our jealous emotions and take steps to stop them, then we can create healthy and loving relationships that can thrive despite jealousy’s presence.
It’s Repercussions on Our Mental Health
The Bible shows us the damage that allowing envy, insecurity and jealous possessiveness can have on our mental wellbeing. In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read that “all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 4:4). When thinking of what this means, it becomes clear that when we are consumed by our desires and emotions, it eventually leads to emptiness. We may feel as though we have achieved what we have desired, but in the end we find that our fits of jealousy have come without the fulfilment that we had hoped for. The Lord commands us not just to love one another but to love ourselves, and it is difficult to live out this command when we are overcome by feelings of resentment and envy.
The Bible also speaks of being gentle with ourselves, which is something we must strive to do if we want to be free from jealousy. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages us to uphold “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Part of what this means is recognizing that God has given us free will and allowing ourselves to choose how we respond to feeling jealous. Choosing to quell our emotions through understanding and compassion rather than lashing out ultimately results in peace and tranquillity in our mental state.
Ultimately, what the Bible tells us about jealousy is to be mindful of its presence in our lives. Jealousy can be dangerous and often leads us to believe lies instead of believing in what God has provided. The Scripture gives us inspiration and teachings on how to combat this emotion so that we can be free from its lies and foster strong relationships with those we care about most.
Casting Out Jealousy in Prayer
Jealousy is first and foremost an emotion, and its power can be broken if it is tackled in the right way. The Bible shows us the power of prayer to overcome jealously – God hears us when we call in faith and answers us as we depend upon Him. In Matthew 21:22, Jesus promises us that whatever we ask for in prayer, if done with faith, will be given to us. This means that even if we feel overwhelmed by our jealous emotions, we can turn to our Father with the hopes that He will hear us and free us from its grip.
In particular, we can look to the Psalms for scripture to use when praying for God’s help. For example, in Psalm 18:4 we read: “The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.” This verse speaks in terms of deep sorrow, which could also be used to express a sense of inner hatred that accompanies feelings of jealously. We can therefore use it to pray for healing and guidance in times when we feel overwhelmed by our emotion.
In the same way, we can call upon other passages to speak against the lies of jealousy. When Satan whispers that our relationship is over, we can turn to verses like 1 Peter 5:7, which promises us: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” When we take a step of faith and pray over our emotions, we can be comforted as God brings us forth from the bondage of our emotional struggles.
Submission to God’s Plan
The Bible tells us that jealousy does not only come from envy and possessiveness, but also from a lack of submission to God’s will. When we are consumed by our emotions, it can be difficult to recognize that God’s plan is often much different from our own desires, leaving us feeling unheard and jealous of those who seem to be in a better place than us. In order to combat this, we must put our trust in God and remember that His plan is always good.
This is something addressed in Psalm 37:3-5, which reads: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” Verses like these teach us that if we can commit our lives to the Lord and trust in Him, He will provide for us and free us from the burdens of jealousy.
We can learn from trusting in God’s plan that we can be content in all circumstances, even if it does not look like what we were expecting or planning for. In Proverbs 16:9 we can read that “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” In essence, God is faithful even when our emotions lead us astray and it is only by trusting Him that we can be free from the weight of our jealous feelings.
The Value of Forgiveness
Lastly, it is important to remember the power of forgiveness when dealing with jealousy. We must strive to forgive those who have wronged us, and in turn we must seek forgiveness for our own jealous actions. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus commands us to forgive those who trespass against us. We must be willing to speak up for our own wrongdoing and practice being even with those who hurt us.
In addition to this, we must extend grace and forgiveness to our own sinful emotions as well. When we allow ourselves to be patient and compassionate with our own trials, it becomes much easier to trust God to direct our desires and lead us away from feelings of envy. Forgiveness is a critical aspect of the healing process and can aid us greatly in our journey of overcoming jealous thoughts and habits.
In conclusion, jealousy can be a dangerous force in our lives if we allow it to consume us. The Bible is clear in its warnings and commands over this emotion, and offers us wisdom and advice on how to tackle it. Appropriately channelling our jealous feelings into productive action and trusting God with His plans leads us to experience true joy, security, peace and relationships that God has blessed us with.
