I was in the midst of getting my last wink this morning when I heard a news report on jealousy being ok. Without opening my eyes I thought to myself “no, it’s not ok – it’s one of the deadly sins”. I must have thought out loud because when I got up awhile later my phone had searched the deadly sins. 

Thought: while I’m praying to have a closer walk with God, He’s making a clear path for me to follow. Things with familial relevancy which have been passed down for generations don’t necessarily have a scriptural foundation – that’s where uncertainty resides.

The Bible states rather strongly that jealousy should be avoided but it’s not one of the deadly sins – envy is.

I began to think about the difference between the two, and this time asked Google to assist. There’s an extremely thin line that separates the two, which explains why the ancestors taught of jealousy being unforgivable in the eyes of God. 

Envy requires a spirit of covetousness whereas jealousy is rooted in lack. One who is envious believes they are more entitled to a position / lifestyle / etc and strongly despises individuals because of their status. The jealous person wants what someone else has and at times will go to extremes to get it.

Hypothetical Scenario: two children are in a room playing. One has blocks the other has books. Both children are happy until the child with the books notices the blocks. The jealous child will abandon the books and go take the blocks because they represent another level of happiness. The envious child will hold on to the books and go take the blocks because the other child shouldn’t be happy.

I’ve made purchases I couldn’t afford because “I had to have it”. I’ve gone places I couldn’t afford to be because “I had to go”. I have a jealous nature! In recognizing this in myself I’ve made some internal changes in the way I operate. Before buying something I ask myself “do you need this or do you want it”. If it’s a need it’s purchased without second thought; however, if it’s a want I’ll get around to it after awhile – if interest lingers.

If I give into a want I’ll make an adjustment elsewhere. For example, I saw a pair of shoes recently that I really want – I didn’t purchase them because they’re too expensive but I’m eyeballing them for a sale. I’m also going through the boxes in my closet to see what I can give away: making sure I’m not holding on to the blocks and the books.

Avoid envy, curtail jealousy, and prioritize your needs over your wants. Oh, and while you’re at it check the settings on your Google Assistant cause it is definitely listening.