What is a flicker today can turn into a fire tomorrow
If you saw some flames dancing on the hem of your curtains, wouldn't you try to douse it out before it engulfed the entire house? You know how quickly those tiny sparks or flames can turn into a fierce disaster. "What is born in innocence is deadly in adolecence". If left unattended, fires consume that which is consumable, and you know for the sake of your house, that it is not good to play with fire.
The same goes for what is in your heart. Fires that are left unattended in the heart can burst into a hungry flame and consume all that is consumable. Solomon names this fire jealousy.
Examples of unmanaged jealousy:
What are some consequences of distrust:
God withholds what we desire in order to give us what we need.
You desire a spouse...He gives you Himself; you seek a larger church...He prefers a stronger church; you want to be healed so you can serve. He wants you to confined so you can pray.
Lucado uses the example of Joni Eareckson Tada. Over 30 years after being involved in a diving accident and being rendered a quadriplegic, Joni and her husband took a trip to Jerusalem. While she was sitting in her wheelchair, she remembered the story of the handicap whom Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda. She said that 30 years earlier she asked Jesus to do the same thing for her. But, on that day 30 years later, she thanked God that He had answered a higher prayer. Now, Joni sees her chair as a prayer bench and her affliction as her blessing. "Had he healed her legs, thousands of prayers would've been sacrificed to her busy life. She sees and accepts that now. Jealousy was eclipsed by gratitude as she surrendered her will to His."
Joni trusted her Father with her disability
Here is a story I shared with some of you earlier on cf:
Do you think our Father want to give us some genuine pearls, too? He offers the real authentic love, but He won't give us the genuine until we surrender the imitations.
Are there any cheap, imitations pearls that we are unwilling to hand over to Him? Would you be willing to exchange the jewel of lesser value for the priceless gift of knowing Him. If you would, then your envy will pass.
Jealousy has no fire when true love is received.
If you saw some flames dancing on the hem of your curtains, wouldn't you try to douse it out before it engulfed the entire house? You know how quickly those tiny sparks or flames can turn into a fierce disaster. "What is born in innocence is deadly in adolecence". If left unattended, fires consume that which is consumable, and you know for the sake of your house, that it is not good to play with fire.
The same goes for what is in your heart. Fires that are left unattended in the heart can burst into a hungry flame and consume all that is consumable. Solomon names this fire jealousy.
Examples of unmanaged jealousy:
- Joseph's brothers:
- The Pharisees: All of these men were pastors and teachers in their day. They were looked up to and respected in their community, but what did they do with Jesus? "They handed Him over because of envy" - Matt. 28:18 NKJV[/quote]
- Ourselves: How many times do we get jealous of someone else because they have something that we don't? They have a bigger house or car, they are smarter, they are more popular, etc. It is not our job to question God, but to trust Him. Don't be jealous...trust the Lord and do good." - (Psalm 37:1,3)[/quote]
What are some consequences of distrust:
- Loneliness - "Anger is cruel and destroys like a flood, but no one can put up with jealousy" - (Prov. 27:4) People don't like to hang around with people who are always jealous.
- Sickness - "Peace of mind means a healthy body, but jealousy will rot your bones". (Prov. 14:30)
- Violence - "You want something you don't have and you will do anything to get it . . .even kill" - (James 4:2 CEV) Jealousy enrages a man (Prov. 6:34 NASB)
God withholds what we desire in order to give us what we need.
You desire a spouse...He gives you Himself; you seek a larger church...He prefers a stronger church; you want to be healed so you can serve. He wants you to confined so you can pray.
Lucado uses the example of Joni Eareckson Tada. Over 30 years after being involved in a diving accident and being rendered a quadriplegic, Joni and her husband took a trip to Jerusalem. While she was sitting in her wheelchair, she remembered the story of the handicap whom Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda. She said that 30 years earlier she asked Jesus to do the same thing for her. But, on that day 30 years later, she thanked God that He had answered a higher prayer. Now, Joni sees her chair as a prayer bench and her affliction as her blessing. "Had he healed her legs, thousands of prayers would've been sacrificed to her busy life. She sees and accepts that now. Jealousy was eclipsed by gratitude as she surrendered her will to His."
Joni trusted her Father with her disability
Here is a story I shared with some of you earlier on cf:
Do you think our Father want to give us some genuine pearls, too? He offers the real authentic love, but He won't give us the genuine until we surrender the imitations.
Are there any cheap, imitations pearls that we are unwilling to hand over to Him? Would you be willing to exchange the jewel of lesser value for the priceless gift of knowing Him. If you would, then your envy will pass.
Jealousy has no fire when true love is received.
