JEALOUSY.
It can take the best of us. It can create the worst of us. Truth is, there's no way to get rid of jealousy sometimes, and even if you choose not to be jealous of others, chances are people will be jealous of you from one time to another. It's a pretty nasty subject.
But then again -- the world is a nasty place sometimes. So how do we deal with it? Come to think of it... how do we eliminate everything nasty in our lives? Is that even possible?
Nothing is impossible with God.
Let's take today's reading for example. If you haven't already, you can read today's chapters with the BIBLE READER to the left of this post, or at http://www.bible.com/. We have this ruler named Saul, and this super awesome fighter guy named David. (Yes, he's the one who killed Goliath.)
David is fighting in Saul's army, and time and time again, David is doing WONDERFUL. Apparently, David is doing SO WELL that he's taking away the "umph" from Saul, and Saul isn't okay with that. This is kind of where I get frustrated. Saul has been of great importance in the land for quite some time. Then, little (humble) David slays this 9 foot champion, and gets a little attention. Of courseeeeeee, Saul is now jealous. Perhaps too jealous.
One day, Saul talks to his son Jonathan, telling him that he's going to find David and kill him. (Yes, Saul has some major jealousy issues.) Jonathan is all "But why, father? What has David done wrong?"
And, you guessed it, Saul doesn't have an answer. In fact, he believes he doesn't even need an answer. He just sends out his soldiers to find David and kill him.
Jonathan and David are friends, so Jonathan runs to warn David. He tells his friend that he needs to go into hiding, and helps arrange a hiding place for him. David hides, and then comes out of hiding, then goes back into hiding, then finally decides to just flee the land, which (in my opinion) is what he should of done in the first place.
Okay, so back to jealousy. There are two messages I have for everyone. The first, is not to be jealous. I know it seems like we're on the short-end of the rope sometimes, and maybe someone received something YOU should of gotten, and you start to feel a little jealous.
In which case, I beg you to refer back to what you DO have. A family, a free country, a God. Me. Does it really seem that bad anymore? I mean, really bad? Maybe you still feel jealous. But once you think about what you have already to be thankful for, maybe your feelings will die down a little over time.
The next message has to deal with people like Saul. Let's say there's a certain "Saul" in your life. They think they have everything, and the ONE TIME you finally get a break, they crush it into your face. You feel like you have nothing. They are SO jealous of the ONE THING you get, they take it away and seek revenge on you, just like with Saul and David. So, what do you do?
You do what David did. You leave.
Sometimes, even though it's hard... you need to realize that if Saul was willing to make such a big deal about David's success... you should just let him be happy. Just let him think he won, and walk away. You need to think to yourself, "is it really that important?"
Sometimes, it DOES still seem important, which is okay. But in these types of situations, I urge you to read the first message again. Go through all the things God has blessed you with, and let yourself know that God Himself can be yours if you love him.
Jealousy will happen. It has happened, it might be happening right at this very moment. But come on -- is it that important? Whatever you may be jealous over, or whatever someone else has take away from you... if everyone is safe and it doesn't hurt anyone, let the jealous "Saul" have the upper-hand. Be the honorable person, because God rewards the humble.
2 Chronicles 7.14:
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Got it? Good. Peace out, have a wondrous weekend!
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