For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance.”
Proverbs 6:34
Jealousy is highly divisive and cruel for it causes division. No matter how you may look at it, jealousy becomes the rage of a man, and he will not be paid off for the offense. Jealousy is associated with anger and becomes a flame of fire that is not easily distinguished. Yet today this flame of fire continues in the world. It burns both in man and women and has brought distrust and a lack of respect for each other. The opposite of jealousy is goodwill, trust, respect and confidence. These are what society wants yet falls short because of immorality. Just read what king Solomon said about jealousy.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.”
Song of Solomon 8:6
There is no doubt that love is strong as death just think about the story of Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet may be one side of a story where the apostle Paul would have exclaimed, “But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband,” [1 Corinthians 7:9-10]. There is no shame in the bed of marriage. But there is great shame to a person’s soul when they come between a husband and wife. Adultery and fornication are the works of the flesh and those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, [see Galatians 5:19-21]. Paul also warns that “he who commits fornication sins against his own body, [see 1 Corinthians 6:18]. The body is sacred for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit and those who are Christians have been bought with a price and are to glorify God in their body which belongs to God, [see 1 Corinthians 6:20]. Today we do not see the holiness of our body in the Lord, because it simply is not taught. To even think that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit is far beyond the conception of our minds. We must remember the promise of restoration how God will put a new heart and spirit in individual’s when they believe in his son Jesus Christ. The new life is in the image of Christ and Christ promised that the comforter would come which is the Holy Spirit, [see John 14:16-17]. We will not stand alone in our walk as a Christian, yet many have denied the Holy Spirit presence. Denying the Holy Spirit presence is denying God’s power to work in you. The question then becomes to whom do you present your body too?
Many have not distinguished between “carnal” which mean fleshly and what it means to be spiritual. We must remember that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. It is the word of God that pierces and divides the soul and spirit. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart of man. Is it any wonder that Jesus said, “if anyone even looks at a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart, [see Matthew 5:28]. The lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh are a part of fornication and adultery. We should be so warned of this double-edged sword that would defile a man to the anger of jealousy. Needless to say, jealousy effects the emotional and physical well-being of an individual. Jealousy encompasses the history and values of people. Beware of social media when it comes to jealousy. Studyfinds.org had an article titled, “Study: Social Media Making People Anti-Social, Jealous” which stated ed that 42% were jealous when they saw a friend had more likes or comments than they did on a status update, ouch! Rage is also seen on social media when couples have separated. To think that jealousy can bring insecurity, anger, and fear is nothing to be toyed with when cruelty of the grave is associated with its outcome such as the Song of Solomon expressed. We should highly reconsider its affect upon us. Do not provoke anyone towards jealousy including the Lord God. The tribes of Isarel tempted and provoked God and did not keep his word. They made images to other Gods and angered God to jealousy.
To this day the gospel goes out to the Gentiles. Salvation has come unto the Gentiles, to provoke those who do not believe such as the early Jews, to jealous, [see Romans 11:11]. It is God desire that all be saved and be restored unto him. God does not enjoy witnessing the destruction of humanity. However, he gave us free will in choosing whom we will serve. It is faith that holds the key in whom we will believe, for faith comes by hearing the word of God. Will we consider God’s word about jealousy? What about the sanctity of the body? The quality of being holy is being washed and justified before God. God has established marriage from the beginning with Adam and Eve. It behooves us to read who will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Fornicators and adulterers are on the list and let us remember that jealousy is a real emotion and is the byproduct of those acts. This is sin where a person will consciously suffer eternally unless they repent. Paul later says that he will not be brought under the power of any deeds of unrighteousness in verse 12 of 1 Corinthians, why? Because we were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of God, [see 1 Corinthians 6:11]. Have you not seen the revelation of Jesus Christ? That Christ is the son of God who came and died for the sins of all humanity. In this was the love of God manifested through his son. He who has called us is holy so be ye holy for I am holy, [1 Peter 1:15-16]. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin, [John 8:34]. We are the servants of God and not sin. Because we were bought with a price, we are no longer the servant of men, [1 Corinthians 7:23]. Our position is in Christ Jesus and not of this world. We do not live according to our former lusts, we now live in “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus who hath made us free from the law of sin and death, [Romans 8:2]. This is so wonderful, and it is by the grace of God that he gives us the freedom from the law of sin. This is the power of God, and we receive it by faith in Christ.
Even if a man is angered by jealousy, God will forgive when you forgive and repent. Even if you are not the person who committed the sin of adultery. Do not let the sun go down upon your anger. Give it to the Lord in prayer and make peace with God. If anyone can understand jealousy is the Lord God. God has called us to peace. I have seen the pain and anguish in my father when my mother left him and filed for divorce. We both were saved by the grace of God and God’s love helped us through the pain. When it comes to letting go and allowing God to move on our behalf, an individual can have peace with God. This is one reason why Paul stated in Romans 12 verse 18, “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Avenge not yourselves for vengeance is mine saith the Lord, [see Romans 12:18-19]. We let them go and place them in the hands of God. We can still pray for them and hope they will eventually make the right choice to repent. Remember that your partner has a free will to choose whom they will believe in and how they will live. This may be the hardest thing to do by letting them go. It is better to obtain peace in any situation. Let us remember that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, [Galatians 5:22]. You can be assured that your conscience will be cleared when you repent and give it to the Lord in prayer. Because of jealousy there is much envying, strife, and divisions in relationships in the world we live in today. Be aware of it and do not fall into its bondage.
Later this morning my husband came in with today’s news from the “Seattle Times.” He said, “look what made the front-page news? Wow!
