Since the fall of mankind, jealousy has plagued us—just ask Cain—but we don’t have to succumb to the green devil. Read on for some thoughts on how to stop being jealous of other people.
Jealousy has been a faithful—or shall I say haunting?—companion to mankind since the dawn of time. The first son ever born murdered his own brother because he was jealous of his little brother’s sacrifice to God. The very first son to live on this earth.
Joseph was sold into slavery because of his brothers’ jealousy—spending years as a servant and even in prison.
David murdered one of his own soldiers because he was jealous of the man’s beautiful wife.
As sure as the sun rises in the east, we’ve all struggled with jealousy at some point in our lives. Sometimes consciously. Sometimes unconsciously. And sometimes we justify it. We say we’re happy for our friend’s success at work and then wonder why things don’t seem as easy for us. We like—no, “love”—our friend’s engagement pictures on Facebook and then wonder why we can’t seem to find the same thing. We fawn over the baby pictures our friend shows us and then secretly ask God what they did right for such a beautiful gift.
And on and on.
We are glad for our friends, and we wouldn’t murder them to take away their success (at least I sure hope not), but we want what they have too. Many times we allow bitterness to lead us to pointing out the faults of our friends—the opposite of the expected behavior of a child of God. But what can we do?
How to Stop Being Jealous of Other People’s Success
It may be a tall order to stop being jealous. After all, jealousy is an unfortunate presence in these earthly bodies, but the wonderful news is we don’t have to let it rule us. Here’s how.
#1 – Remember from whence you came.
The truth is we all started with a negative balance on our account. We are all sinners bound for hell with no way to save ourselves. That’s who we are.
Until Jesus said to our souls, “I love you still. Be mine.” And we accepted.
#2 – Remember who you are in Christ.
Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are new creatures—clothed in the righteousness of the sinless blood of Christ.
Instead of lost, we become found. Before, we were liars, thieves, and murderers. Now, we’re redeemed, enough, treasured, and never alone.
#3 – Remember your own blessings.
Absolutely everything we have in our lives are blessings lavished upon us by a merciful God who, not only saves our lives, but gives us yet more.
We haven’t earned anything we have; even our physical abilities are a gift of God. We are abundantly blessed, and it probably wouldn’t hurt us to write down our blessings instead of our wants occasionally.
#4 – Remember that God knows best.
God knows every minute detail about us, and He has a plan for each of our lives. Sometimes those plans don’t involve what we think they should, but we can know He never withholds good from us. If God has another plan, we can know that He has a better plan for us.
#5 – Pray for help.
As humans, we’re all about what we don’t have. It’s so easy to see those around us and laser focus on what they have without seeing the big picture.
We must look to the One who provides all we need—including our contentment.
#6 – Pray for a genuine love for the fortune of others.
We tell ourselves we don’t wish those around us didn’t receive their blessings, we just wish we had them too. At the heart, though, is plain jealousy. We can’t be truly happy for someone else when we’re jealous of them.
Let us pray that we would have a genuine, Godly love for those around us.
Jealousy has certainly been a companion to mankind since the beginning, but that doesn’t mean it has to rule us forevermore.
The blood of Christ frees us, and God lavishes goodness upon us. May we remember that we are loved and provided for beyond all measure.
Do you ever feel jealous of other people’s success? What helps you? Let me know in the comments below.
Similar reading…
- Judgment versus Discernment: The Golden Rule from HISsparrowBlog
- How Comparison Kills Self-Esteem {+ 3 Reminders For Fighting Back} from HISsparrowBlog
- 5 Necessary Reminders for a Victim Mindset from HISsparrowBlog
I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.
What a great topic. You’re so right in saying we all struggle with jealousy sometimes. I especially love the way you detail the subtler forms it takes in our thoughts. Thank you for this encouragement today!
We certainly do, and we’re good at justifying sometimes, aren’t we? Thanks so much for stopping by, Patti!
Great points, here. Each can help us be less jealous. # 2 and #3 are the ones I turn to the most. It’s humbling to remember how much we have and don’t deserve.
Those really get me, too, Theresa. Thank you for your comment today!
“Jealousy has certainly been a companion to mankind since the beginning, but that doesn’t mean it has to rule us forevermore.” Good points!
Thank you, Lisa!
I love your insights and encouraging tips here. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Paula! Blessings to you!
Great encouraging points. God knows best! I sometimes need to remind myself that God is in control of everything and it’s not by chance.
Yes! Excellent point, Valerie! It’s never by chance.
Ashley, jealousy isn’t something many people like to admit much less talk about! But we all suffer from it now and then. Your tips are great, especially remembering where we came from and who we are in Christ. Thank you for bringing this topic out into the open!
Oh, for the day when there is no more jealousy, right? Thank you for your comment, Donna!
Ashley, such a good post and each point well taken. Jealousy will destroy a relationship faster than one can imagine. When I find that emotion rearing its ugly head in my life, it is #3 which always helps me. Remembering all the Lord has already given me fills me with a deep and settling contentment (and gratitude) and uproots the green tendril quickly.
Yes! All that he’s given…It reminds me of the Jordan Feliz song “Count that High”. I can’t even count all the blessings God has lavished upon me. Thanks so much for stopping by, Joanne!
Jealousy is at the root of many broken relationships. Why waste time being jealous of others when we can revel in the uniqueness of how we are fearfully and wonderfully made and the individual plan God has for our lives? Salient points in this post that can set us free.
Yes! It amazes me sometimes at our paradoxical desire to be unique yet like everyone else at the same time. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Yvonne!
This is a fine post on a topic not easily confronted as we walk this life’s paths. It does rear it’s ugly head far more often than I care to admit, but I see it. The Scriptures are perfect and the perfect reminders to place alongside while I walk this journey.
(That photo of the blue house is awful and amazing all at once. Some major storm got that one. I pray no one was in it as it was being swept along and away.)
Thanks, ~ linda
I love that picture with all its conflict. Thank you for commenting, Linda!