Jealousy, Envy, Comparison and You
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:16-17
Jealousy, envy and comparison are easier than breathing, and can happen faster than flipping a light switch. They are built into us by sin and cemented into our hearts and minds by society. These three qualities boil down to seeing something another person has that you don’t and wanting it for yourself. These thoughts and feelings are prideful and selfish at the core and can lead to a lot of unnecessary conflict and strife. Conflict and strife within yourself, relationships with others and your relationship with God. If you allow jealousy, envy and comparison to come into your heart and mind, they can steal many things from you. They can take your happiness, contentment, and desire to be obedient to God. When we pursue these sins, we turn away from our God and run after the lesser pleasures of this world. We forget that we serve Jesus Christ, our God and we become our own god.
Comparison clouds our obedience
These feelings of jealousy, envy and comparison can be traced back to one of the earliest relationships; Cain and Abel. Jealousy, envy and comparison got in the way of Cain obeying God, by giving him an easier and more self/flesh satisfying way out. Cain killed his brother Abel because he was jealous of the attention and love God gave Abel for obeying Him. But if Cain had just taken a step back, examined his own heart and saw that God didn’t love Abel more, God was simply praising the one who obeyed Him. Cain was offering fruits and vegetables while Abel offered animal blood sacrifices, which is what God commanded. If Cain had obeyed God in the first place he wouldn’t have been in the position to envy his brother. When we simply obey God and what He says, we are shielded from so much anxiety, strife and pain.
Envy and comparison can also take our happiness and contentment. It makes us feel like there is always something we need to buy, do or achieve in order to feel content with our lives. So often in my life I’ve found myself looking at someones life online, in a movie or just hearing someone tell me how their life is and wishing I had what they did. Wishing I could live where they did, have the job they have or be dating someone. This kind of mindset can be so detrimental to our mental health and walk with God. While it can be so hard to see someone else living a life you want, but finding happiness and contentment with what God has given you will bring you much more joy. He placed us where we are meant to be for a reason; to glorify Him.
