Jealousy kills

Some of us may have heard this many times, while for some, this might be the first time. Whether it's a true incident or a story is unknown. A person, unable to tolerate the fact that a statue of someone he disliked was erected in his village, decided to somehow bring it down. He went alone in the middle of the night to dig it up and remove it, but the statue fell on him, and he died.

This incident or story is a testament to the consequences of jealousy.

Jealousy is a silent enemy that destroys the soul.

Jealousy is the dissatisfaction that arises in our hearts upon seeing the blessings bestowed upon others.

Even if it's not visible externally, it slowly eats away at inner peace and faith.

Jealousy fosters dissatisfaction with God's plan, weakens prayer life, transforms brotherly love into hatred, and opens the door to sin.

Where there is jealousy, there is no joy, and no peace.

The first person to show jealousy in the Holy Bible was Cain, who could not honor God's plan when God accepted Abel and his offering. The reason was jealousy, and that same jealousy motivated him to commit murder, and ultimately led to his own death.

Another person in the Holy Bible is King Saul. Saul was jealous of David, the anointed one, who confronted Goliath and, with God's help, protected the honor of the Israelites.

Saul became envious because the people sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands," praising David more than him. Due to this jealousy, Saul could not live in peace; he abandoned God's perspective and ran towards anger and resentment. Ultimately, he was attacked by his enemies in battle and, while still alive, fell on his own sword and committed suicide. The cause of this downfall was jealousy.

The jealousy of Joseph's brothers destroyed the family and deprived their father of happiness. They wanted to kill their own brother and ended up selling him.

Here too, we observe that the inability to tolerate someone else's success is a characteristic of jealousy.

This incident that occurred within a single family is seen in many families today, and even in congregations that are called spiritual families.

The root cause of jealousy is foolishness.

Jealousy arises from the foolishness of comparing ourselves to others, the feeling that others should not be greater than us, and the desire to be the only one visible, the only one to receive recognition, the only one whose word prevails.

This jealousy kills a person and causes them to kill others.

Job 5:2 says, "For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the simple."

We have probably heard such words many times before. But let us ask ourselves this question: how are we reflecting on what we are hearing for our spiritual well-being?

Let us not have such a foolish nature within us, but instead, let us love our brother completely. Let us be a people set apart in these last days, as God desires.

God bless you all

- Elisha Bonnke