Jealous People Cause Trouble, Worry, Hatred, And Bad Outcomes

Other key points:
1. Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger [Proverbs 27:4 (TLB)].
2. A sound heart is life for the body. Envy (jealousy) is like bone cancer (decay) (rottenness to the bones) [Proverbs 14:30 (NSB)].
3. You cannot afford to let it make you do something you will regret. Learn to control this emotion!

To begin, look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ERV):

Love (charity) is not, cannot, does not, never, or is never:

4: is not jealous (KJV envieth^G2206), does not brag, and is not proud.

5: is not rude or selfish; cannot be made angry easily and does not remember wrongs done against it.

6: is never happy when others do wrong.

7: never gives up on people; never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

Love (charity) is or is always:

4: is patient and kind.

6: is always happy with the truth.

According to the Asbury Bible Commentary ‘One’s mental state affects one’s physical well-being.’ The Bible Knowledge Commentary states ‘Health in one’s bones, mentioned several times in Proverbs (3:8; 12:4; 14:30; 15:30; 16:24; 17:22), suggests, as is well known today, that spiritual and physical health are related.’ The wisdom of Proverbs 14:30 (NLT) conveys ‘A peaceful heart {a tranquil/healthy mind/heart} leads to a healthy body; jealousy ^H7068 is like cancer in the bones {will cause your bones to rot; bone cancer}.’

Why be jealous?

I love this particular Psalms, 73:25, it speaks volumes like a child that understands and appreciates the love of their father. Allow me to share a few translations: ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.’ (NLT) ♦ ‘As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.’ (NOG)

Put on your kingdom mind and say ‘Lord, since I have you, what else could I want on earth? I cherish our relationship, you are my strength, my source of joy, my safe place, I put my trust in you. I desire nothing but you Lord, only you!’

Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind. 5 Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. 6 Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind. 7 Once again I saw that nothing on earth makes sense. 8 For example, some people don’t have friends or family. But they are never satisfied with what they own, and they never stop working to get more. They should ask themselves, “Why am I always working to have more? Who will get what I leave behind?” What a senseless and miserable life! Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 (CEV)

Jealousy leads to…Trouble, Worry, Hatred, And Bad Outcomes

Spiritual uncleanness; unacceptable behavior – Mark 7:18-23 Jesus said, “Do you still not understand? Surely you know that nothing that enters someone from the outside can make that person unclean. 19 It does not go into the mind, but into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body.” (When Jesus said this, he meant that no longer was any food unclean for people to eat.) 20 And Jesus said, “The things that come out of people are the things that make them unclean. 21 All these evil things begin inside people, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 greed, evil actions, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, speaking evil of others, pride, and foolish living. 23 All these evil things come from inside and make people unclean.” (NCV)

As well as…

Anger, rage, and desire for revenge – Proverbs 6:29, 32-35 If you sleep with another man’s wife, you will be punished. 32 But a man who commits adultery is a fool. He brings about his own destruction. 33 He will suffer disease and disgrace and never be free from the shame. 34 The woman’s husband will be jealous and angry and do everything he can to get revenge. 35 No payment—no amount of money—will stop him. (ERV)

Fear that a rival may rob us…

Jealousy – That passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves. ♦ A man’s jealousy is excited by the attentions of a rival to his favorite lady.

• ♦ The candidate for office manifests a jealousy of others who seek the same office.
• ♦ A woman”s jealousy is roused by her husband’s attentions to another woman.
• ♦ The jealousy of a student is awakened by the apprehension that his fellow will bear away the palm of praise.
• ♦ In short, jealousy is awakened by whatever may exalt others, or give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves. Jealousy is nearly allied to envy, for jealousy, before a good is lost by ourselves, is converted into envy, after it is obtained by others. —”jealousy.”

Footnotes:

^H7068 The KJV translators used the word ‘envy’ and ‘jealousy’ both are from the Hebrew word H7068 קִנאָה qin’ah (kin-aw’) meaning ardor, jealousy or envy. ♦ Proverbs 6:34 “For jealousy ^H7068 [is] the rage of a man” (KJV) i.e., rage from the Hebrew חֵמָה חֵמָא chemah (khay-maw’) 1. heat 2. (figuratively) anger, venom, poison (from its fever); burning anger.

^G2206 Envy – in 1 Corinthians 13:4 the King James Version envieth is the Greek word ζηλόω zeloo (dzay-loh’-o) verb 1. to have warmth of feeling for or against; to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger; be jealous over, envious or spiteful; to exert one’s self for one (that he may not be torn from me).

Emulations/Envy

Now the works of the flesh are obvious; they are; sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, fits of rage, selfishness, dissensions, factions, Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like: of which I forewarn you, as I have also warned you in the past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (RKJNT)

Once again we go to Galatians 5:20, this time the 1611 King James translators used the word emulations. The revisions and other translations more accurately use forms of the word jealousy. The Greek word ζῆλος zelos (dzay`-los) meaning (unfavorably, as of a husband) jealousy (also used figuratively, of God). A few facts^* about Galatians 5:20: 1) the Geneva Bible (1599) was the first English translation to use the word ’emulations’. 2) The (1833) Revised Webster was the first English translation to use ‘jealousy‘. 3) Most translations before 1611 KJV used the word zeale / zele. 4) The various King James revisions are as follows:

• ♦ emulations – KJV (1611); KJV (1769); KJVPCE (1900); AKJV (1999); RNKJV (?)
• ♦ jealousies – NKJV (1982); MKJV (1993); UKJV (2000; worldly jealousies);
• ♦ jealousy – RKJNT (2000)
• ♦ rivalry – KJ21 (1994)

^* Based on my cursory research; should you find different information, please help me by sharing.

Definitions

Jealousy or envy is stimulated by a desire for something that rightly belongs to another (Genesis 30:1 and Proverbs 3:31). Intolerance of rivalry or unfaithfulness; a disposition suspicious of rivalry or unfaithfulness; hostility towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage. Most often human jealousy involves hostility towards a rival. As mentioned before, jealousy is regarded as worse than wrath or anger (Proverbs 27:4). Jealousy (or bitter envy) is regarded in James as characteristic of earthly demonic wisdom (James 3:14) and as the source of all disorder and wickedness (James 3:16).

Envy – Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another’s excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; — usually followed by of; as they did this in envy of Cæsar.

Jealousy is a strong and often a painful emotion aroused by the unfaithfulness of a husband or wife, but can include other family members or associates. The distinct difference between jealousy and envy is clear when associated with a marital relationship and faithfulness or trust; envy does not apply.

Note: The law of jealousy (Numbers 5:11-31 (key verses: 14-15, 18, 25, 29-30) was instituted so that God himself could determine the guilt or innocence of a wife whose conduct was suspect but for whose guilt there was no proof. It was to the advantage of an innocent party to go through the ordeal and have her name cleared and her husband reassured.

Scriptures to read and study

Note: parenthesis (#) encloses the key verse(s).

Psalms 37:1-8 ( 1, 3-4 and 7-8); 73:1-28 ( 2-4, 12-14 and 21-24); Proverbs 6:20-35 ( 29, 32-35); 3:8; 12:4; 14:30; 15:30; 16:24; 17:22. Numbers 5:11-31 ( 14-15, 18, 25, 29-30); Ecclesiastes 4:4-8.
Mark 7:1-23 (focus verses: 18-23;  22); Romans 1:18-32 ( 28-32). 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (4); Galatians 5:16-26 ( 19-21 and 24-26); James 3:13-18 ( 14 and 16); 4:1-10 ( 1-3).

Conclusion

What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.

3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. James 4:1-3 James 4:1-3 (AMP)

Jealous or Envious of others, does it matter?

Both jealousy and envy are sins (works of the flesh; see Galatians 5:19-21) that will not end well. Those who are ‘being jealous’ or ‘feeling envy’ will not inherit the kingdom of God (New Century Version). So it is your decision, does it really matter which one a person struggles with?

Galatians 5:24-26 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. 25 The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. 26 We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another. (GNT)

Use Godly wisdom

Is there anyone among you who is truly wise and understanding? Then he should show his wisdom by living right. He should do good things without being proud. A wise person does not brag. But if you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to brag. Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth. That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God. That “wisdom” comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil.

Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. Then it is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. When people work for peace in a peaceful way, they receive the good result of their right living. James 3:13-18 (ICB)

Be blessed my friends and use self-control to subdue jealousy—♥ Tim.

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

5 Helpful Studies to Make You Want to Avoid Adultery – an estimated 30-minute read.

Self-control; Take Control Now with This Gift From God – an estimated 19-minute read.

Godly Wisdom; 5 Really Simple Steps To This Ability – an estimated 25-minute read.

Bitterness Is A Sin: Get Rid Of It Now – an estimated 7-minute read.

The Truth About ‘Well Done Good and Faithful Servant’ – an estimated 8-minute read.

♥ Question for “jealous”: Are you a jealous or envious person?

See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

Copyright information:

(AMP) Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) || Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission. || (ERV) Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center, Inc. and used by permission. || (GNT) and (TEV) Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. || (ICB) Scripture taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. || (KJV) King James Version 1769 revision – public domain. || (NCV) Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. || Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. || (NOG) The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group. || (RKJNT) Revised King James New Testament – public domain. || (WNT) Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech Third Edition 1913 Public Domain.