Jealousies or Emulations can be either good or bad; used in a good way describe an excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit, for something good. Fervor of spirit that is misdirected as described in Galatians 5:20, resulting in a form of envy and jealousy that is destructive of personal relationships.
Zeal that is misdirected is mostly directed toward self, i.e., “selfish.” This negative sense of zeal. exhibits in the purest logic of the natural survival of the fittest mentality that is inundated with multidimensional arrogance defined “as not only looking down on those who are so-called beneath you but also being envious of those so-called above you and ultimately being in competition with those who are around you.”
The characteristic of what makes us different from the animal kingdom is our ability to have and use reason. However, reason that is channeled through imaginations of unbelief that reduces God to no more than an absentee father. This same unbelief also communicates that God is insufficient to meet the demands of a world that is full of those who would subscribe to the logic of every man or woman for themselves and if there is active sence of God; He does not know how to properly provide or that He is unjust in His inequity concerning the “me”. This mindset not only yields to the worst of human nature but also opens the door for the convergence of everything that is ungodly.
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Ja 1:14-16 KJV
Jealousy is one of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21 just another aspect o
f human nature that wants to drive all of us apart from one another because it pits one against another.
We are ment to be in unity and harmony but jealousy is sinister because many times it is not recognizable at the onset. The attack on group can manifest its self through the more obvious signs of racism, sexism, denominationalism extremism and confusing party (Group or Click) with principal. All of the time the hidden puppet master of jealousy causes people to attack those that they feel are getting a perceived internally unfair advantage. This occurs in some layers of life’s varied ethnic/cultural competition for resources and influence of the perceived power sources of society i.e. government, commerce, corporate, academic, media representation etc. In all of this let’s not forget about power in Church.
I heard a quote from a famous preacher that said “Favor aint (is not) fair.” That also leads us to another scripture.
“There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, Barnabas and Paul reported matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other nations through their ministry. The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop.
James broke the silence. “Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets:
After this, I’m coming back; I’ll rebuild David’s ruined house; I’ll put all the pieces together again; I’ll make it look like new; So outsiders who seek will find, so they’ll have a place to come to, All the pagan Peoples included in what I’m doing.
“God said it and now he’s doing it. It’s no afterthought; he’s always known he would do this.” Act 15:13-21 The Message (MSG)
Maybe to better articulate the words of the preacher in light of Acts 15, is to say that God has a plan and this plan is not based on the short-sighted view of what we might call fair. This plan which includes all and does not discriminate so that God will ultimately be glorified regardless who he uses. He assures us of the promise of Romans 8:28 ”
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Amplified Bible (AMP)
God still has His hands on the switch; we don’t have to be afraid of being left out and we don’t have to trust in the unfaithful mistress of jealousy. Unity is what God desires “Ps133” the kind of unity that “consecrates” (To dedicate solemnly to a service or goal)
the whole body.
Kevin K. Robinson executive Director of Accord1.
f human nature that wants to drive all of us apart from one another because it pits one against another.
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