Dealing With Jealous People

jealousy: fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights or possessions

envy: a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck: spiteful malice and resentment over another’s advantage

covetousness: having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else

pride: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired

Jealousy: Seeking to protect what I already have Envy: Desiring what others have Covetousness: a desire for the possessions that others have Pride: desire for others to acknowledge what I have

Jealousy is not always a sin.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;Exodus 20:5

There is a godly jealousy.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;Exodus 20:5

There is a carnal jealousy.

Envy is always a sin.

Envy is fed by comparison.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.2 Corinthians 10:12

Envy steals your joy.

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.Proverbs 14:30

Envy hinders our spiritual growth.

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:1 Peter 2:1-2

Envy is closely linked with interpersonal drama.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.Romans 13:13

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?1 Corinthians 3:3

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:2 Corinthians 12:20

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.James 3:14

Envy of sinners is warned against.

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.Proverbs 23:17

Covetousness is always a sin.

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.1 Corinthians 12:31

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.1 Corinthians 14:39

Covetousness comes from the heart.

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.Mark 7:22-23

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:2 Peter 2:14

Covetousness is idolatry.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.Ephesians 5:5

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:Colossians 3:5

Covetousness is never satisfied.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.Ecclesiastes 5:10

Covetousness says Jesus is not enough.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.Hebrews 13:5

Covetousness desires stuff more than God.

For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.Psalm 10:3

Envy and covetousness breeds materialism.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.James 4:1-3

Envy and covetousness is fueled by social media usage.

Indications of Jealousy and Envy

Inability to celebrate the success of others. Comparing yourself to others. Diminishing others to elevate yourself. Feelings of bitterness or resentment toward a person. Need for continual validation from others.

How do I deal with jealous or envious people?

Give credit where credit is due.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.James 1:17

Walk in humility.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.Proverbs 14:7

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.”

Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬‬‬

Withdraw from foolish conversations.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.Proverbs 14:7

Don’t give people anything to talk about. Speak less about yourself.

“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.”

Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭21

Surround yourself with positive Christian influences and limit negative conversation.

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”

Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭20‬

How do I protect my heart against jealousy, envy and covetousness?

Gratitude

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.Psalm 28:7

Contentment

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.Hebrews 13:5

Mind Renewal

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:1-2

Celebrate others

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Romans 12:15

Serve others

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.John 13:13-15

Guard your heart and mind.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.Proverbs 4:23

Humility. Humility. Humility.

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.Proverbs 16:19