The J-word

In the 9th chapter of the book Unglued, the “J” word comes up and no it wasn’t about Jesus. It tells of the destructiveness of an old time story that dates back to the biblical days of Cain and Abel:   “Jealousy”.  At a first thought I would say no I don’t have any issues in that area. Wrong answer. I think that we have all had thoughts of jealousy even if it doesn’t come across as the horrific story of Cain and Abel, it brews from a place of feeling not good enough.  I know, you know how that feels right?

Well okay, let’s just talk about me then, while you think on that.  I come from a house of six children and I never had the privileges of some of the other kids in the neighborhood, even though I never missed a meal and I never woke up on Christmas without presents to open.  When I went to school each day, I would feel a little less than adequate because I didn’t display the latest designer jeans or have the latest electronic.  I wasn’t in the popular girl clique either.  Even though I was taught better and knew better it was still hard for me to be satisfied with all that my parents did for me and thankful that the Lord had blessed me with two parents and a safe home that was intact. 

 

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Well in the six grade, I had my biggest transition from feeling inadequate to feeling jealousy to becoming Cain like.  I haven’t talked about this in years.  Nonetheless here we go.  One day instead of going to the library as I was supposed to I went to a local store with my large size book bag (you will now know why they tell kids to leave bags at counter now) I had about a dollar to my name.  But walked through that store and I picked up all things that I thought I was lacking and placed them one by one in my bag. No fear, just excitement of how I would be accepted because of these things. Then as I walked to the counter to buy my lipstick I was escorted by the store security officer to the back office to discuss what was in the bag.  To make a long story short, my jealousy and envy lead me down a path of destruction.  Luckily enough my mother came and I was not charged with shop lifting. 

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I learned a huge lesson that day of how the J-word can lead you to the path of destruction.  This is why it is found in the Bible numerous times.  Be thankful for what you have and do not concern yourself with that which you don’t have because the Lord will provide according to his riches in glory (heaven).  I don’t know about you but there isn’t a thing they have here on earth that can compare to that which God possesses in heaven.

 

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Bible Verses on the J-WORD

Song of Solomon 8:6:  

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.

Proverbs 27:4 

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Proverbs 6:34 
For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

James 4:1-2 
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Romans 13:13 

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy

 

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