Jealousy...

Jealousy...

Over the years,  I have battled jealousy over a variety of things...

As a teenager, it was someone else's perfect hair, or figure or whatever...( I was raised in the Barbie age)...

After marriage, it was  possessions, which we didn't have and couldn't afford...or that my husband wasn't nearly as handy in building with his hands as my friends...
There was I time, I distinctly remember...we had just purchased a double wide home on property which we loved...but then my sister in law and brother in law built a beautiful home on a huge piece of property- the house was custom designed, 100 feet from corner to corner, filled with all sorts of luxuries...a far cry from our cozy little double wide... Oh, the green eyed monster appeared over and over as they recounted this and that...new furniture, etc, while we were still living with parental hand-me-downs from college years...

And then jealousy over lack of children, which we couldn't seem to carry to full term...as friend after friend brought home their bundles of joy...

Oh, I said all the right things...how happy I was for everyone and rejoiced in their joys...but jealously kept lurking in the corners, sneaking out at inopportune times...I coveted what they had...plain and simple ...it was my right, wasn't it? I felt all of the feelings of resentment, bitterness,  insecurities, anxieties, anger  that the definition of jealousy lists...
Not a good way to start each day...not a good witness to my children...not good for my health...not good for relationships...just plain not good for life...you never win in comparisons...
and jealousy creates idols out of everything you desire more of...IDOLS...not a very positive picture...and no peace of mind...


So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-17,19-25

Oh, to desire the life in the Spirit...and not living by the flesh...thinking about the best and not the worst...peace of mind in times when idols are presented at every turn...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Thank YOU...for your riches which are incomparable ....and certainly more lasting than earthly ones...
For your peace of mind...
For your eternal Love...
for your Son...who gave his life that we might live...
For your Holy Spirit who speaks truth and comfort into our lives ...
For everything...amen and amen...

jeal·ous·y
/ˈjeləsē/
noun
* 1.
the state or feeling of being jealous: 
"a sharp pang of jealousy"
synonyms:
envy, covetousness, resentment, resentfulness, bitterness, spite, the green-eyed monster, suspicion, suspiciousness, distrust, mistrust, insecurity, anxiety, possessiveness, overprotectiveness

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Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jealousy
Jealousy [N] [E]
Jealousy is used in the Scriptures in both a positive and a negative sense. When jealousy is used as an attribute of God, it is obviously used in a positive sense. Probably the most striking example of the anthropomorphic portrayal of God is in those passages where he is said to be jealous. The language is based upon the relationship of husband and wife and is frequently associated with Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
The Hebrew word qana [a"n'q] and its cognates are the most extensively used words for jealousy in the Old Testament. In Exodus 34:14 we learn that "the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." In Deuteronomy 4:24, God is describedas "a consuming fire, a jealous God, " giving the idea that he will judge because of his jealousy. In Joshua 24:19, Joshua challenges the people to serve the Lord but reminds them that serving God will be difficult because "He is a holy God; he isa jealous God." In Zechariah 1:14, when the Lord is asked why he allows Jerusalem tobe down-trodden by the nations, he replies, "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion." In verse 15, he continues to explain that while he intended to punish Israelfor her sin, the nations have "added to the calamity." Because of his jealousy, God will restore Jerusalem to its rightful people and will build his temple there (v. 16).This concept is also brought out in context of the last days in joe 2:18: "the Lord Will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people." The Hebrew noun is also used to describe a man's jealousy for his wife ( Num 5:14-30 ) andGod's passionate anger against sin ( 1 Kings 14:22 ;  Psalm 78:58 ). It isused in a negative sense in Proverbs 6:34, where a man is in a rage because of his jealousy. In Song of Solomon 8:6 jealousy is described as being as "unyielding as the grave." Ezekiel 8:3 describes an idol that was set up in the temple mount "that provokes to jealousy." This image, along with other idols, caused God to remove his shekinah  glory from the temple.
The Greek word zelos [zh'lo"] and its verb form zeloo [zhlovw] are only used five times in the New Testament. In Romans 10:19, Israel is said to be provoked to jealousy by Gentile nations that receive divine blessings. The same use of the word is recorded in Romans 11:11 because "salvation has come to the Gentiles." In 2Corinthians 11:2, Paul declares his deep concern for the Corinthians when he says, "I Am jealous for you with a godly jealousy."
The Corinthian Christians are said to be provoking God to jealousy because of the worship of idols ( 1Cor 10:22 ). This is followed by the question, "Are we stronger than he?"meaning "Can we afford to defy his power?" Therefore, to arouse the jealousy of God is a very dangerous action on our part. On the other hand, God's jealousy is based on his love and concern for us.
Alan N. Winkler
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Edited by Walter A. Elwell
Copyright © 1996 by Walter A. Elwell. Published by Baker Books, a division of
Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement.

[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bibliography Information
Elwell, Walter A. "Entry for 'Jealousy'". "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology". . 1997.