For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13).
Jealousy and envy are the most pervasive sins. They are the sins which literally every person commits, including 'moral and decent' people who do not indulge in sexual immorality, live lifestyles of crass materialism, and practice drunkenness. Such things are vile sins and deserve death, but so are jealousy and envy, which are sins of the flesh: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5)
Just like the sins of sexual immorality, one must put to death jealousy and envy, or else one will die and go to Hell.
The Bible commands us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13). So, how can one put to death the sin of jealousy and envy?
1. Wholeheartedly pursue God and His Kingdom, and not your own self
If you wholeheartedly pursue God and God alone, and His Kingdom, you will be filled by true joy and peace. Such joy and peace comes from knowing that one is right with God, and being fulfilled by pursuing God, and knowing that one has nothing to fear. You will be so focused on God and that which is heavenly, such that envy and jealousy will not even enter your mind, as you will know that you have the best that God has for you.
Indeed, Colossians 3:2 exhorts us to "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth". Setting one's mind on heavenly things and one's mind on earthly thing are diametrically opposed. You cannot do both. You will set your mind on either one. The reason is that "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). That is where the true life is, and only if one is a true follower of Christ does one have true life.
2. Know that earthly things are just earthly, temporal vanities
We live in an age where those who have many earthly things love to make those who have less than them feel inadequate. This includes many professing followers of Christ, who love to stir up envy in others who have less money than them, less holidays, are not being married, who have a marriage that is not as good as theirs, not having a family, have a smaller house, a less prestigious job or career, or for driving a smaller cheaper car.
My friends, do not let such professing followers of Christ ensnare you or bait you into feeling envy or jealousy towards them. Know this: that all such things are temporal vanities as Ecclesiastes makes so clear. You cannot find fulfillment in such things at all, not even in marriage and family, as so many people in the modern Church seek to make young people think.
The only way to find true fulfillment is by pursuing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is the only true fulfillment. Certainly, God may call people to have certain jobs, or to marry and have children, as part of their calling, by which they find fulfillment. But the fulfillment is found not in such things themselves, but rather, because it is part of God's calling for them. It is not that God gives such gifts to people to enjoy Him better, for that is to imply that one worships God through such things. Such is an extremely subtle form of idolatry, and a form of 'christian' hedonism.
No, it is that fulfillment can only come through such things when it is in accordance to God's will to serve Him in such ways because it is God's will for them to serve Him through such means.
Do not let any so-called 'christian' hedonist deceive you into thinking that the gifts that God gives are to help you enjoy Him better. Such a claim is based on the false blasphemous claim that one can only enjoy God, or that God is only more worthy of one's worship by having such things, such as a job, money, house, marriage, and children. God is to be worshipped with all one's soul, strength, mind, heart and spirit, no matter what, irrespective of whether one has all the things in the world, or if one has nothing.
This hedonist thinking masquerading as 'gratitude' towards God is a lie, a doctrine of demons. It will ensnare you, as it will have you think that you are less righteous, and less favoured by God when you have less earthly material things.
However, as Job demonstrates, having less material things does not mean one is less blessed, or less favoured by God. Job was vindicated by God, while his three friends who accused him of being disfavoured by God, as indicated by having lost all his wealth, health and family were rebuked by God:
And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
(Job 42:7-9).
Treat all earthly things, including the good things as vanity. Seek only things which will help you run the race of faith at the greatest speed, and which will maximise your knowledge of God and intimacy with God. Some things may be good, but some other things may be better, and yet some others are excellent in helping you run the heavenly race.
3. Know that this life is fading away and is nothing compared to eternity
How one lives one life matters because of its implications for eternity, not because of its implications for one's life. True life is eternal life, not whether one has a good life know.
In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Covetousness is caused by the mindset that one's life consists of the abundance of things one possesses. Jesus said this was false. One's life consists of one's spiritual life before God. That is the only life. Without such a life before God, one has no life (John 10:10; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13).
That is why the 'christian' hedonist' thinking as discussed above is so abominable, because it directly contradicts what Jesus clearly said in Luke 12:15. It subtly implies that life's abundance does consist of one's possessions, falsely justified on the grounds that they help one love God better. Having possessions does not help one love God better. It is by humbling oneself before Him, and knowing that great love God has shown one, that helps one increase in love for God:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(1 John 4:7-10).
Be convince when the Bible says: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17). It is only those who do the will of God who will live forever, and only those works which will count for eternity.
All good things on earth, including marriage, are passing away for life is short, in light of eternity. Whether it be possessing earthly power in the world, being married, or possessing wealth, the Bible tells us to live as though one did not have these things:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
So, do not let anyone pressure you into pursuing these things, by telling you that if you do not have these things, you are cursed, disfavoured by God, disobedient to God, will not be able to find fulfillment or contentment, or will be useless for God. For such is utterly untrue. For the Bible itself tells us not to pursue such things, but rather, live as one is. Rather, allow God to give you such things in accordance to His will and timing, and know that if and when he does, it is only because it is for His purposes.
4. Constantly giving thanks to God for all things, no matter what the circumstances
By giving thanks to God for His great mercy and grace in even giving you a single breath, your mindset will be radically changed from one focused on yourself, to one truly focused on God. You do not deserve even a single breath, at all. So, no matter how dire your circumstances may be from a human perspective, you have so much to thank God for. For even a single breath of life is utterly undeserved, because your sins, deserve eternal punishment in Hell.
Knowing that one does not deserve anything at all will not only increase one's thanksgiving towards God. It will radically change one's mindset from being focused on oneself and satisfying oneself, to fearing God and focusing on God.
It is only by the fear of God that one can kill any sin in the flesh, including the sins of jealous and envy.
Jealousy and envy are the most pervasive sins. They are the sins which literally every person commits, including 'moral and decent' people who do not indulge in sexual immorality, live lifestyles of crass materialism, and practice drunkenness. Such things are vile sins and deserve death, but so are jealousy and envy, which are sins of the flesh: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5)
Just like the sins of sexual immorality, one must put to death jealousy and envy, or else one will die and go to Hell.
The Bible commands us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13). So, how can one put to death the sin of jealousy and envy?
1. Wholeheartedly pursue God and His Kingdom, and not your own self
If you wholeheartedly pursue God and God alone, and His Kingdom, you will be filled by true joy and peace. Such joy and peace comes from knowing that one is right with God, and being fulfilled by pursuing God, and knowing that one has nothing to fear. You will be so focused on God and that which is heavenly, such that envy and jealousy will not even enter your mind, as you will know that you have the best that God has for you.
Indeed, Colossians 3:2 exhorts us to "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth". Setting one's mind on heavenly things and one's mind on earthly thing are diametrically opposed. You cannot do both. You will set your mind on either one. The reason is that "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). That is where the true life is, and only if one is a true follower of Christ does one have true life.
2. Know that earthly things are just earthly, temporal vanities
We live in an age where those who have many earthly things love to make those who have less than them feel inadequate. This includes many professing followers of Christ, who love to stir up envy in others who have less money than them, less holidays, are not being married, who have a marriage that is not as good as theirs, not having a family, have a smaller house, a less prestigious job or career, or for driving a smaller cheaper car.
My friends, do not let such professing followers of Christ ensnare you or bait you into feeling envy or jealousy towards them. Know this: that all such things are temporal vanities as Ecclesiastes makes so clear. You cannot find fulfillment in such things at all, not even in marriage and family, as so many people in the modern Church seek to make young people think.
The only way to find true fulfillment is by pursuing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is the only true fulfillment. Certainly, God may call people to have certain jobs, or to marry and have children, as part of their calling, by which they find fulfillment. But the fulfillment is found not in such things themselves, but rather, because it is part of God's calling for them. It is not that God gives such gifts to people to enjoy Him better, for that is to imply that one worships God through such things. Such is an extremely subtle form of idolatry, and a form of 'christian' hedonism.
No, it is that fulfillment can only come through such things when it is in accordance to God's will to serve Him in such ways because it is God's will for them to serve Him through such means.
Do not let any so-called 'christian' hedonist deceive you into thinking that the gifts that God gives are to help you enjoy Him better. Such a claim is based on the false blasphemous claim that one can only enjoy God, or that God is only more worthy of one's worship by having such things, such as a job, money, house, marriage, and children. God is to be worshipped with all one's soul, strength, mind, heart and spirit, no matter what, irrespective of whether one has all the things in the world, or if one has nothing.
This hedonist thinking masquerading as 'gratitude' towards God is a lie, a doctrine of demons. It will ensnare you, as it will have you think that you are less righteous, and less favoured by God when you have less earthly material things.
However, as Job demonstrates, having less material things does not mean one is less blessed, or less favoured by God. Job was vindicated by God, while his three friends who accused him of being disfavoured by God, as indicated by having lost all his wealth, health and family were rebuked by God:
And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
(Job 42:7-9).
Treat all earthly things, including the good things as vanity. Seek only things which will help you run the race of faith at the greatest speed, and which will maximise your knowledge of God and intimacy with God. Some things may be good, but some other things may be better, and yet some others are excellent in helping you run the heavenly race.
3. Know that this life is fading away and is nothing compared to eternity
How one lives one life matters because of its implications for eternity, not because of its implications for one's life. True life is eternal life, not whether one has a good life know.
In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Covetousness is caused by the mindset that one's life consists of the abundance of things one possesses. Jesus said this was false. One's life consists of one's spiritual life before God. That is the only life. Without such a life before God, one has no life (John 10:10; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13).
That is why the 'christian' hedonist' thinking as discussed above is so abominable, because it directly contradicts what Jesus clearly said in Luke 12:15. It subtly implies that life's abundance does consist of one's possessions, falsely justified on the grounds that they help one love God better. Having possessions does not help one love God better. It is by humbling oneself before Him, and knowing that great love God has shown one, that helps one increase in love for God:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(1 John 4:7-10).
Be convince when the Bible says: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17). It is only those who do the will of God who will live forever, and only those works which will count for eternity.
All good things on earth, including marriage, are passing away for life is short, in light of eternity. Whether it be possessing earthly power in the world, being married, or possessing wealth, the Bible tells us to live as though one did not have these things:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
So, do not let anyone pressure you into pursuing these things, by telling you that if you do not have these things, you are cursed, disfavoured by God, disobedient to God, will not be able to find fulfillment or contentment, or will be useless for God. For such is utterly untrue. For the Bible itself tells us not to pursue such things, but rather, live as one is. Rather, allow God to give you such things in accordance to His will and timing, and know that if and when he does, it is only because it is for His purposes.
4. Constantly giving thanks to God for all things, no matter what the circumstances
By giving thanks to God for His great mercy and grace in even giving you a single breath, your mindset will be radically changed from one focused on yourself, to one truly focused on God. You do not deserve even a single breath, at all. So, no matter how dire your circumstances may be from a human perspective, you have so much to thank God for. For even a single breath of life is utterly undeserved, because your sins, deserve eternal punishment in Hell.
Knowing that one does not deserve anything at all will not only increase one's thanksgiving towards God. It will radically change one's mindset from being focused on oneself and satisfying oneself, to fearing God and focusing on God.
It is only by the fear of God that one can kill any sin in the flesh, including the sins of jealous and envy.
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