Jealousy Control

Luke 15: ²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

²⁸ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

³¹ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. ³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

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Listening with anticipation I waited to hear who won the top employee award. When they announced this other person, I immediately got upset. I mean this person didn’t do half as much as I did and he constantly asked me questions. This day of celebration was over for me.

• There were times when I was jealous instead of celebratory.
• There were times when I was not happy for “that” person because I was envious.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” better than “that” person.

JESUS speaks about the dedicated brother who “followed all commandments” and did everything right, yet felt slighted when his father threw a party for the one who wasted money. The father’s perspective was interesting. He gets a party but “All I have is yours.”

• GOD says to me “Do not want for anything.”
• GOD says to me “I AM with you always.”
• GOD says to me “I have rewards for you that you cannot see right now, but have patience.”

“Why does this person have it so easy and I have it hard?’ was my question to GOD on many occasion. I mean it seemed “unfair” that people who never profess GOD seem to have it easy while I was struggling day to day serving HIM. “What good is it anyway?” I exclaimed.

GOD reminds me that my rewards are in heaven for everything I do here on earth. When I sincerely serve HIM, I get excited when someone else gets more than me. GOD fills my heart with the fact that HE has a great reward for me because I can enjoy seeing what HE is doing in other folk’s lives. Praise for others brings rewards.

• Are you struggling so much that you get jealous when someone else gets something?
• Do you feel mad at GOD for not giving you more?
• Will you open your heart wider for others and add praise to GOD when they get a temporary windfall?
• Can you praise GOD today for the rewards in heaven HE is storing up for you?