THE DANGER OF JEALOUSY

1 Samuel 18:7-9,14-15

This was their song: 

“Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”

This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!”

So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.

When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

Listen, it is foolishness to envy the blessings of God in the life of anyone talk less of His anointed. 

Envy is actually a sign of fear. A hidden knowledge within you to show that you are actually afraid of the person, the height they can attain and sometimes that you will be displaced.

Envy eats into a person and blinds them from their own progress. They are trapped in monitoring others and are quick to find fault in others.

One sign of envy which grows into hate is the fact that you blame all your woes on them. It is a terrible state to be in and joy will be far from anyone who walks this path. It is indeed pathetic!

Scriptures categorise envy as foolishness:

Titus 3:3

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

James 3:16

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Many preach against sexual sin, idolatry, love of money and other evils, however most times, envy/jealousy is overlooked. Many who gather as believers carry this evil around and they wonder why the Lord is not answering their prayers and why they just keep experiencing evil again and again.

We must emancipate ourselves from this evil, let us learn from the error of Saul. We cannot afford to become God's enemy because of envy!

Saul became envious of David because of his exploits that led the people to love him. He may not have known of David's anointing but he could see that he may be soon be crowned king.

Remember that God had left Saul because of his repeated disobedience. This is why most of his decisions were foolish.

Can we see that Saul had forgotten that he was a nobody till God found him out and made him king:

1 Samuel 9:21

Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”

1 Samuel 10:21-24

Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!

So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.”

So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.

Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

He had forgotten how he started and now believes he is above all.

We must be careful not to let pride eat us up. For this is one reason people are worried about others rising.

Search your heart, is there hatred there, is there jealousy, are you sad that someone else is excelling? If there is, then you need help. Run to the Lord today.

Hebrews 12:14-15

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

O help us Good Lord.

PRAYER

Lord my heart is Yours it all belongs to You, cleanse me of any thing that is not from You, instead fill me with Your Spirit and His nature afresh. I will please You Lord in all things. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.