Read through Proverbs in 31 days, Today’s reading is entitled “Jealousy Is More Dangerous Than Anger and Wrath”
Read Proverbs 27 – Jealousy is a bad thing. It is likely that you have heard this many times during a lifetime, yet sometimes those who will give this advice will long for the earthly “toys” that others have acquired. We are imperfect humans living in an imperfect world, so we do the best we can to strive for the perfect example shown by Christ while falling short many times. Where should jealousy fall in the “ranking” of sins? Well, I guess if we strayed from the fact that “sin is sin” we could also assign different danger levels to the act of jealousy. If you look across the street at your neighbor’s new car and think “I will get one of those when …” we could assign this maybe a 2 on the 1-10 jealousy scale. When the wants have escalated to taking a spin after the neighbor leaves the keys so you can watch the house during a vacation trip, what level have we escalated to? While taking that spin, the vehicle is involved in an accident and you try to hide that fact by bringing it back to the driveway in the hopes that they will believe someone vandalized it.
Yes, jealousy can be more dangerous than anger and wrath.
- Stay humble, don’t brag about tomorrow since you don’t know what awaits you.
- An open rebuke from a sincere friend is much better than many compliments from your enemy. A person who believes he needs nothing will refuse even the best support while the person who hungers for peace will grab at the smallest morsels.
- Don’t abandon your friends or family because it is better to have all of them to provide support through your trials.
- Always consider the current circumstances when greeting your neighbor otherwise he may be offended.
- Be considerate of the needs of friends and employers, they will reward you greatly. The heart reflects the beliefs of a person, while uncontrolled human desire is never satisfied.
How many times have you worked with people who will brag about accomplishments of possessions? Is this bragging because he or she is confident and satisfied in current life situations? Take a brief read of Philippians 4, verses 11-13 and compare that to what we generally experience with those who are braggards. Do you believe they are happy in their circumstances? It is quite easy for life circumstances to change. With full knowledge of God and His control over the things of this world, you can say “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Do we all occasionally fall into periods of doubt and fear? I can only speak for myself, and an honest answer would be a definite “Yes.” During those periods, we should be open to a rebuke from good friends. While continuing to wallow in self-pity can only lead to deeper issues, listening to the advice of a caring counselor, friend or family member can help us turn to God’s Will. How can you be a caring friend? Listen and be understanding. By listening you can understand whatever circumstances someone may be going through. Resist the urge to craft a response in your head while the person is “pouring out” his or her heart. As some counseling advice goes, you may even need to repeat and rephrase what you have heard in order to ensure that you understand. Although you may want to give immediate advice and the recipient is also impatiently expecting an answer, it may be better to leave some things unanswered until there is time for prayer and meditation on God’s Word. It is probable that we have all experienced God’s immediate answer to a situation, while it is even more likely that we have received a response of “wait.” As the saying goes, patience is a virtue – when dealing with God, and with others.
