Christians are taught to be wary of jealousy for the very reason that it can be destructive not just to a person but the relationships surrounding him or her. Jealousy is the feeling of desiring something that doesn't have and is a form of idolatry that can be easily forgotten.
From the very beginning, man has been plagued by jealousy and the consequences of it. Eve ate of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil because she was jealous of God's knowledge and wanted to be like Him. Cain murdered Abel out of jealousy of his favoured sacrifice. Jacob stole Esau's birthright out of jealousy and ruined his relationship with his brother.
How are we to battle jealousy? The best way to guard our hearts of jealousy is to steer clear of discontentment. Here are some scriptures in the Bible that speak of how we are to be content and how we can keep discontentment from entering our hearts.
Psalm 37:16. Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked.
Philippians 4:11. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
Proverbs 30:8. Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion.
1 Timothy 6:8. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
1Corinthians 13:4. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it his not arrogant.
James 3:16. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
When all has been said and done, jealousy never brings satisfaction. The best way to find contentment is to find it in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that God is our provider, healer and comforter. He is our source of peace, joy and satisfaction, and there is nothing in this world that can satisfy like Jesus.
When we place our contentment and desire on God, we receive everything else we need and want as an added bonus. As Matthew 6:33 reminds us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
What areas of your life are you battling with discontentment? How can you shift your contentment on things of this world to Jesus?
