Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 1 Samuel 18:8
Watching someone succeed faster and better than oneself will often bring on a rise of jealousy. People do not always like to see someone else be more successful than themselves. They want what the other person has.
The world often believes that they deserve the highest praise and honor, not the other person. Fear of the successful person will often follow feelings of jealousy.
David had been credited with killing tens of thousands, while Saul was only credited with thousands. Saul became angry and jealous and felt that David was now after the throne.
Being jealous is something that the world sees as a right of a person. Everyone deserves what the other person has. The world does not believe that one person should have more than any other person.
Jealousy can also be found in the church among believers. Some are jealous over the ministry of another. Others are jealous because they get their way in how things are done. Still others are jealous because of how God is working miracles through a person.
God is the only One who deserves to be jealous because He created everything and owns everything. Mankind was created by God and does not have the right to be jealous about anyone.
Being jealous puts one on the throne and removes God from that position. It places himself above God and all others.
Instead of being jealous, believers are to build others up and give God glory for the success of others. They are to praise God when He blesses others, rather than become jealous and angry at their success.
Most likely, there is someone in your life who is more successful than you. They appear to have more blessings than you have.
Do not allow jealousy to set in and cause you to get angry and sin against God. Take a moment to look at how much God is blessing you. Count your blessings rather than the blessings of someone else, or count what you do not have.
God has forgiven you and given you life when you deserved death. What more do you need?
Focus on what God has given you and keep jealousy out of your life.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see what God has blessed you with; that God will reveal any jealousy in your heart; that God will strengthen you to remove any jealous thoughts; and that you will trust how God blesses you and others.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
