The Cancer of Jealousy

“Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”

Jealousy consumes every good part of your life.

Like cancer, jealousy spreads to devour every good thing. It eats away at joy and gratitude and spoils a health life. The only way to stop its progress is to cut it out entirely. James 3:16 explains that jealousy brings about “disorder and every vile practice.” It causes you to despise the blessings in your own life and envy the blessings given to another. It’s power leads to poisonous words, ingratitude, division, deception… until it corrupts the character completely.

Jealousy rejoices at the misfortune of others. It calls up a friend to discuss another’s downfall, feeling elevated. Jealousy finds fault only and points it out to others. It plants seeds of discontent and conflict, rejoicing in its successes.

Jealousy is a work of the flesh, a side effect of our humanness that must be overcome (1 Corinthians 3:3). It is the opponent of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 explains that love is not envious, and it does not boil over in jealousy. It is not boastful or haughty. As a matter of fact, reading the full description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 reveals that jealousy displays the exact attributes of love. A person eaten up with jealousy who also tries to worship God is a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (v. 1). Even if she does acquire great knowledge and understanding, her importance is “nothing,” canceled out by her lack of compassion (v. 2).

The first step to overcoming jealousy is acknowledging it. This is an insurmountable step for many because it injures our pride. Once jealousy is acknowledged, speak it in prayer to God. Mourn for this sin, and ask humbly for forgiveness and the spiritual power to overcome it. Read scriptures about jealousy and how to defeat it. God is the only way to extinguish jealousy, but even then, we will be tempted to pick it up again. Closely monitor personal thoughts and words. Because of the power of the cross, jealousy can be overcome.

Think about it.

Have you been jealous of someone? Perhaps it is someone at church, at work, at school. Acknowledge that before God, and ask for forgiveness. Put a filter on your own thoughts and words. Ask yourself: Do they build others up? Are they speaking encouragement and life or are they tearing others down? What is the motive behind this thought or word? For a while, you will need to be vigilant about guarding your thoughts and words. Replace every jealous thought and word with gratitude. Be mindful of your own blessings. Resist the urge to compare. Keep your eyes laser-focused on your own life. Finally, be in constant prayer, and consider fasting a meal.

Read about it.

There is power in the Word of God to deliver. Truth about sin and how to overcome it is found in the Bible. First, read about jealousy in James 3:14-16, Proverbs 14:30, James 3:14-15, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Proverbs 6:34, and 1 Corinthians 13:4. Now read about overcoming jealousy in James 4:7-10, 1 John 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 12:21, Proverbs 10:12, Psalms 25:4-5, 1 Peter 5:8, and John 16:33.

Pray about it.

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the sin of jealousy. I am grieved by my own words and deeds. I thank you for the power of your grace; it is sufficient to cover my sin. Please convict me of every wrong thought and word. I want to be pleasing to you. In Jesus name.