Beware of jealousy – Part 2
Chidi Okoroafor
Text: Acts 13:42-52
Key Verse: Acts 13:45: “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” (KJV)
A fable was told in Moody’s Anecdotes, pp. 44-45 of an eagle, which could out fly another, and the other didn’t like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him:
“I wish you would bring down that eagle.” The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some feathers to put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out of his wings.
The arrow was shot, but didn’t quite reach the rival eagle; it was flying too high. The envious eagle pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many that he couldn’t fly, and then the sportsman turned around and killed him. My beloved, if you are jealous, the only person you can hurt is yourself.
In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas ministered among the Jews in the synagogue and they were blessed.
Paul encouraged them to continue in the grace of God. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought Paul that the same gospel that they preached to the Jews might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. The Jews became infuriated with jealousy toward Paul and Barnabas when they preached that God’s blessings were now available to all Gentiles. Quickly, the Jews whipped up antagonistic opposition against Paul and Barnabas.
Dr. Luke wrote, “When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul and were blaspheming.” (Acts 13:45)
Whenever, people become obsessed with jealousy they demonstrate a misperception of the truth and pervert the truth.
The Jews were obsessed with jealousy and thinking they were the only people of God and that the Gentiles are not.
They were resentful to the ministry of Paul and Barnabas because the same Word of God preached to them was preached to the Gentiles who came out in mass to receive the Word of God.
For the Jews, they are the only special class of people who had the rights and privileges to hear the Word of God while the Gentiles are not.
Some people are obsessed with jealousy when God does something for another what He did for them.
They easily forget because they are overwhelmed in jealousy that they are not the only recipients of God’s blessings. What God did for one, He can do for another.
Do you easily get jealous when good things happen to people? Be careful not to fall into any trap of jealousy or you will lose your perspective of the truth and love of God.
Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business.
If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival. One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, “I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy.
Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?” The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, “Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!”
Thomas Lindberg said, “One sign of jealousy is when it’s easier to show sympathy and “weep with those who weep” than it is to exhibit joy and “rejoice with those who rejoice.”
Ask the Lord to help you overcome and resist the spirit of jealousy.
Today’s Nugget: When obsessed with jealousy, you pervert the truth.
Prayer: In the name of Jesus, I overcome the spirit of jealousy.
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