Jealous or Unresentful?

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.

1 Samuel 18:8-9

After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. The gatekeeper came by and the woman said to him “This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?”

“You have to spell a word,” the gatekeeper told her.

“Which word?” the woman asked.

“Love.”

The woman correctly spelled “Love” and the gatekeeper welcomed her into Heaven.

About six months later, the gatekeeper asked the woman to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day. While the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven, her husband arrived.

“I’m surprised to see you,” the woman said. “How have you been?”

“Oh, I’ve been doing pretty well since you died,” her husband told her. “I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a big mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around the world. We were on vacation and I went water skiing today. I fell, the ski hit my head, and here I am. By the way, how do I get in?”

“You have to spell a word,” the woman told him.

“Which word?” her husband asked.

“Czechoslovakia.”

Jealousy is a monster within us all that when released can do some major damage in our own lives and in the lives of others. And probably all of us at one time or another have battled with jealousy.

Now let’s make sure we understand what real jealousy is, because sometimes we confuse jealousy with envy. Envy is when you want what someone else has. You want something. You want more. That’s envy.

Jealousy is when you fear loosing something. Your insecurities cause you to fear loosing something that’s important to you. You fear loosing your job to a coworker who sucks up to the boss all the time. You fear loosing your friend at school because a new, cool kid just enrolled in your class. You fear loosing your spouse to someone who’s more attractive than you. So you become jealous because of your fear of loss. And that jealousy is the green-eyed monster who will damage people’s lives if it isn’t stopped.

Sometimes our jealousy is because of the bad actions of others. Sometimes our jealousy is because of our own insecurities. Our self-esteem isn’t what it should be. Or our faith isn’t very strong. Or we’re allowing our past to rule our present. Our personal insecurities can cause us to become jealous.

In 1 Samuel 18:5 we see that Saul starts giving David more tasks, and everything David does he does successfully. After the incident with Goliath David is popular with all the people. He is a national hero. David is so successful that Saul even gives him a high rank in the army. This pleased everyone. But Saul is not so pleased. Why? Because he’s jealous, and jealousy prevents you from taking pleasure in other people’s successes.

Saul’s jealousy of David goes all the way back to David’s victory over Goliath. When the men were returning from battle, the women came out to meet Saul. As they danced, they sang, “Saul has slain his thousands!” There was no problem hearing them sing this. But after that they sang, “And David his tens of thousands.” Saul was angry because they credited David with tens of thousands and Saul with only thousands. “Only” thousands. Jealousy not only prevents you from taking pleasure in other people’s successes. It also robs you of the joy of your own successes.

Saul got jealous, and that led to anger. And in his jealousy, he couldn’t even take joy in his own successes anymore. Due to jealousy David has a harp in his hand, and Saul has a spear in his (v.10-11).

Jealousy will eventually make you strike out at others. Jealousy starts on the inside, but it doesn’t stay there. Jealousy will eventually work its way out. You may not have a spear in your hand, but you’ve got daggers in your eyes. You may not throw a physical weapon, but you will strike out in other ways – with ugly words or hurtful actions.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 we see Jonathan’s love for David, and it illustrates for us a very simple truth: that love brings you closer to people, while jealousy and fear will drive you apart.

Dear Friends if love brings you closer to people while jealousy and fear will drive you apart, then shouldn’t we seek love and avoid jealousy.

This Lenten Season may we try not to be jealous and not miss out on what god is doing in and through other people.

God Bless You.