Day 10


Jealousy Destroys

1 Samuel 18:6-9
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

Jealousy is a deadly sin. It destroys your heart, your relationships, and perhaps even more if you’re not careful. Many a great men and women have fallen because their jealousy got in the way. In fact, at the heart of Satan’s rebellion against God stand jealousy. He wanted to be like God in every way, and when he couldn’t he proceeded to destroy everything that God had made and loved.

Saul’s jealousy over David took him down a dark path that spiraled him into madness and depression. The end result was Saul’s murderous pursuit of David.

Acknowledging jealousy for what it is and confessing it to God helps release the shackles that it places on us. Had Saul stayed the course and trusted that David was serving the king faithfully, Saul’s reign would have turned out much different. Perhaps Saul would not be remembered for his madness but rather for his mastery of himself and his emotions.

In Christ Jesus, our old sinful selves, filled with hatred and jealousy have been crucified and done away with. While the temptation is there (and we can give in) the power and control over us is not. The Holy Spirit lives in us and grants us freedom and power over such emotions. Allow God to direct how you relate to others and if anything be jealous for the Lord.