“Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”
I once had a staff that was jealous of the relationships I had built in 40 years of ministry. I had no idea. That is until I learned she had been working for a year behind my back to poison my relationships and take the ministry. Thankfully only one or two people were deceived and I was actually working to transition to a new ministry. No harm done. In retrospect it was an ugly thing to witness as it unfolded. Over the years I had staff get angry at me, often justified. Occasionally someone got furious. Not so justified. We always found a way to deal with it and restore our relationship. But, jealousy is hidden, insidious and usually unchecked, at its core, evil. All three of these emotions need to be dealt with in proper ways and time. Scripture goes so far as to tell us not to let the sunset before we deal with our anger. Anger and fury (wrath) tend to pass after time but jealousy lingers and grows silently like a cancer. Where the first two reveal themselves and the subject can prepare and respond, jealousy tends to work subtly and be difficult to diagnose. It is therefore much more dangerous to the kingdom. The jealous person has a sickness in their mind as they envy someone else’s happiness or good fortune which they should instead celebrate. It is not caused by the subject the way anger and fury can be. Typically the focus is innocent and yet targeted. Today search your heart and be sure your motives for others align with God’s and celebrate others wins as He does. #BeTheEdge
“Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].” 1 Corinthians 13:7 AMP
