An intense interest for another’s honor or prosperity. Resentment against a person’s success or advantage; mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry and unfaithfulness.
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, back biting, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21
When Paul wrote to the church of Corinth he was informing them of this fact. Church is only a church when it is seen in changed lives–and if there are no changed lives, there is no church. It is vitally important that we often examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that CHRIST JESUS is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test? There is every possibility that all or at the very least some church’s, for that matter–will fail the test, if the vices listed in verses 20-21 are, to any extent, a reality in the life of the congregation. You see church is not a building it’s simply an edifice where we of like faith gather together and worship in one accord The One True Living GOD. The church should actually be within you. So very often we hear people say “so and so has been in church for several years; look how they act or listen how they speak”. The thing is so and so has been in church but the church has not been in so and so.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, sexual immorality; fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
You know when you are trying to develop a spiritual walk; it can be unsure at times. We are so accustomed to doing things our own way that we really don’t think about what is right or wrong in the sight of GOD. However, when we do think of what is right and wrong we don’t seem to be very clear about if what we are doing is a sin. I’m a researcher; I love to dig beneath to find the complete answer so when I do; I have a clear picture and understanding as to what is going on or why something is. Many years ago when Galatians 5 began to gnaw at me; I sat down with a dictionary and thesaurus to look up each word that was written in the works of the flesh. I thought that I was going to have a permanent curvature of my hand from writing so much. This was before home computers and I no longer had my typewriter. However, in writing out each and every word with its definition and character traits along with its words found in the thesaurus I somehow memorized them and if I began to get to close to the line of danger I could hear the voice of The Holy Spirit warning me not to. Sometimes I did not obey but most times I did. Each and everyone of us has our own gift into how we learn; my suggestion to you is to apply that gift you have for study; be it listening; reading; hands on training or researching. Just do it; life will become alot more easier as you walk towards your destiny instead of being jealous of another person who has achieved what you desire.
When you find yourself desiring what someone else has which is a total waste of time. Here are some antidotes for that disease.
Most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. This too is meaningless-like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. James 3:16
Why waste your time wanting to be like someone else; first of all you don’t know what they go through to be who they are; secondly you don’t know who they really are and thirdly you are unique even twins are not as identical as we are led to believe. Love who you are; you are the best; GOD said that HE made you in HIS image and that you are fearfully and wonderfully made to boot. So come on now put your swag on; don’t envy sinners or CHRISTians.
Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. Proverbs 23:17-18
Here’s the closer*Those who belong to CHRIST JESUS have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to HIS cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:24-26