HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 189
page A187
When we seek the character traits that come from the Holy Spirit, we are spared from petty
human jealousy and the hard feelings that come from the competition for honor and popularity.
How can I deal with jealousy?
• G E NE SI S 3 0 :1 | When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she
became jealous of her sister.
Instead of enjoying the favor and love of her husband, Rachel focused on her inability to
give Jacob children. She became jealous of her sister, Leah. The cure for jealousy is being
thankful and enjoying what you do have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.
• MAT T H E W 2 0 :1 5 | “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”
Jealousy reveals selfishness. We want for ourselves what someone else has. Jealousy
shows a smallness of heart that resents the blessings and joy of others. The inability to
rejoice in another’s success or good fortune limits your own capacity for joy. The cure for
jealousy is gratitude.
What does it mean that God is “a jealous God”?
• E X O DU S 3 4 :1 4 | You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is
Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
• DE U T E R O NO MY 5 :9 | “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your
affection for any other gods.”
• DE U T E R O NO MY 3 2 :2 1 | ‘They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not
God.’ (See note on page 189.)
• Z E C H A R I A H 1 :1 4 | ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem
and Mount Zion is passionate and strong.’
When people give their honor, praise, and love to other things, God is jealous that the
honor due him has been squandered elsewhere. Because God deserves all our honor,
praise, and love, this is an honest recognition of what he deserves.
PROMISE FROM GOD
• PR O VE R B S 1 4 :3 0 | A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in
the bones.
Joy See Happiness; Hope
Judging Others See also Racism & Prejudice
We make dozens of assumptions every day. In fact, it would be difficult to function if you
couldn’t make assumptions about weather, traffic, food, work, and relationships. Many
of our assumptions are harmless, and many are necessary (like assuming that gravity
will continue to exist). On the other hand, assumptions can also be wrong and harmful,
causing us to react in ways that have negative effects. For example, we sometimes make
assumptions about people based on their hairstyles or clothing, only to find out later our
assumptions were completely off base. When we make assumptions about people it is
called judging others.
HelpFinder
When Peter heard Jesus’ prophecy of his death, he wondered what would happen to the
other disciple (John). Jesus made it clear that Peter was to pay attention to his own concerns,
not those of others. In many situations, you may be tempted to compare your lot in life with
another’s. Jesus sternly rebukes this attitude. It shows discontent with God’s plan and stirs dissent among people. Instead, keep your focus on God and accept that his will for you is best.
J
• J O H N 2 1 :1 9 -2 2 | Jesus said this to let [Peter] know by what kind of death he would glorify
God. . . . Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who
had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter
asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I
return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”