By Jessica Carniol
The color green is associated with many positive things – things such as the environment, the “green” movement which encourages recycling, conserving energy, protecting out natural resources, etc. However, green has one negative association – envy and jealousy. As girls, we are all too familiar with these two concepts.
It is hard not to be jealous when certain things happen. For example, when a girl at school’s parents buy her a brand new car that she parks right next to your old clunker, it is hard not to be at least somewhat envious (I speak from experience here). When a guy who sits next to you in class scores an A on a test that you studied hours for only to receive a C, it is hard to be happy for him. Jealousy is something that we encounter on a day-to-day basis, but God has some strong opinions about envying those around us.
One night when I was doing my devotions, it hit me that God not only instructs us not to be jealous, but He commands it! One of the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses said that we are not to covet. Let’s let that sink in…one of the TEN COMMANDMENTS tells us not to be jealous! In Galatians, Paul tells us, “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5).
It is hard not to be jealous of other people. We live in a world where beauty, money, and status make people famous, popular, and desirable. It is hard not to want to look like the models in the magazines, drive nice cars and wear name-brand clothes, and have fame like the celebrities. What we need to realize though, is that even if we have all of those things, it is only God that truly can make us content.
I would like to suggest several ways in which you can fight off jealousy as soon as you start feeling it. First, pray for the people around you. It is hard to be jealous of the score that your friend got on her test when you were praying that she would do well on it. When you pray for someone, you put your needs aside and bring someone else’s needs before God. This will make you truly happy for other people and take away envious feelings. Second, fill up on the fruits of the spirit and there won’t be room for negative feelings. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). Finally, take joy in your relationship with the Lord and the unfailing love that He offers us. The world might seem like it has plenty to offer, but nothing compares with the joy and satisfaction that can be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6).
Recommended Read: Green’s Not Your Best Color: Being an Original Girl in a Plastic World by Mieka Phillips
Thank you SO much for writing this! I definitely needed to hear it. (: What you said about praying for someone is so true. It really is hard to be jealous, or envious, or even unforgiving towards someone when you are praying for them. That’s also a really good reminder that nothing compares to our relationship with Jesus, it can be so easy sometimes to be distracted by other wordly things or to put someone (or something) in the place of God in our lives. Thanks for posting this!
“…but jealousy will rot your bones.” – Psalm 14:30 NCV