Jealousy

It sort of sounds like a dirty word doesn't it?  Thats because it can be.  Jealousy is one of the most powerful emotions because it causes people to do things that they may not normally do in the right state of mind.  I mean  jealousy really can put a person out of their mind.   People are willing to do crazy things for the mere fact that they are jealous of someone, including but not limited to, being hateful, excluding people,  abuse, lieing about, destroying a persons reputation, causing other people to alienate someone and even murdering the person they are jealous of.  All done simply because that person has acquired something in life that they want for themself.   The damage a person can do to another person out of a jealous fit or rage is not only ridiculous but down right scary.  It says in  James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

I bet if you asked my kids what I taught them about jealousy they'd tell you I said its a normal feeling that people get.  I truly feel it is, but the way some people respond to that feeling is FAR FAR from normal.  In fact I distinctly remember telling my children.  "Don't be afraid to admit your jealous, most everyone has probably been jealous at one time or another, but be VERY CAREFUL how you handle your jealousy."  You see just because I am jealous of the lady who I see at the grocery store who can still fit into her size 5 jeans, it doesnt give me the right to run around the store telling people shes a thief and I saw her eating the grapes in the produce department.  Does that sound crazy? Well it is, but sadly enough people often times will try to destroy another person or make that person look bad simply because they are jealous of them. Lets face it the worse they look to everyone else, the less there is to be jealous of ..... right?  So now we put off feeling jealous and traded it in for guilt and something to be held accountable for.  Yes I believe we will be held accountable for pain we bring onto other people, and destroying another person to make yourself less jealous causes that person a HUGE amount of pain. 

Raising 5 kids, and growing up around a load of siblings, I have seen my fair share of jealousy.  I think its unfortunate that parents don't talk to their kids a bit more about this feeling called jealousy.  There are some people out there walking around hating on other people and they dont even have a clue why.  If you ask them why they dislike the person they may beable to sputter out some nonsense about how that person isnt living their life the way they should, or they just don't like their personality, but I bet many a times there might be a form of jealousy that lays under all that hate.  Now dont get me wrong, I am not saying that you are jealous of every single person you have ever disliked, but I'd be brave enough to say that I bet a few of those people made your DO NOT LIKE list because of something that started out with jealousy. 

I am not afraid to admit to being jealous.  If I am jealous of something I will say I am jealous.  I would rather admit to that dirty word of emotion then ignore it and let it grow into something I myself dont even know where it originated from.  I heard a sermon from Joyce Meyers once where she talked about jealousy...... she had some pretty good advice....... if you are really jealous of someone, get to know that person, work along side them, you may find out they don't have as much to be jealous of as you thought.   You may then realize everything that person has went thru to get to where they are.  Great musicians are not born, they practice and often time spend countless hours mastering their instrument.  Great athletes invest endless hours into themself and go make huge physical sacrafices.  Theres always an investment a person makes to get to where they are at.  If nothing else, working alongside that person will also help you to take the focus off yourself and be a blessing to someone else. 

Undealt with jealousy almost always leads to anger and anger of course can destroy anything in its path.  Heres a thought, the next time you find yourself really angry with someone, try to check yourself and make sure those feelings arent stemmed from jealousy.    Once you realize they are from jealousy, you realize the problem your having is really your problem and has nothing to do with the other person. 

I want to encourage anyone reading this to take a real close look at yourself.  I bet you have some really awesome gifts and talents, alot to offer this world, I hope you are using those gifts and dont leave them to this world unopened.  BEST of all, once you focus on your own gifts you won't be as inclined to be jealous of other peoples gifts.  God Bless!!!  :)