The Sin of Jealousy and Envy - Paul M. Williams

Genesis 4:1-9 If we could truly see how many have been slain and homes destroyed; the strife, the rivalry, the bitterness and resentment resulting from the sin of jealousy and envy we would be lost for words!!  Whole Churches have been split and homes left in tatters under a false guise and pretext, when the real issue underlying the destruction is the spirit of jealousy and envy!!  King Solomon put it fearfully in Proverbs 27:4 when he said:  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?  Though envy often wears the guise of a smile and a hug, it has concealed in its hand a dagger, which it seeks to drive into the very back of the one it so embraces!! How do you respond when a friend is exalted in place of you?  How do you respond when you are greeted with the news of the success of your fellow neighbour?  How do you respond when a thing you so desire, another from your own midst receives in your place?  Is your countenance one of favour towards such or one of suspicion?  Are your thoughts warm toward such a one or do you find feelings of resentment and bitterness rising up instead?  If so, then the wicked sin of jealousy is most probably at work in your life and its desire is to master you!!  The call of this sobering message is that honest search would be made to see if indeed this sin is at work in your life and if so that true repentance and confession would be made.  May God give you the grace and courage to obey!!