Jealousy might make a good story plot, but it certainly isn’t part of a global worker’s life. Or is it? What is jealousy? And how is it different from envy?
While both fall under the category of covetousness, envy wants to possess something that someone else has and begrudges God’s gift to them. Jealousy, however, desires to hold onto something God has already given and resents the one who threatens to take it away.
Both are team-wreckers, but jealousy seems harder to identify. And God says it’s deadly. Consider the scriptures:
“Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.” Proverbs 27:4 (NLT)
“For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:16 (NLT)
We find extreme examples of jealousy in murder mysteries. The wife poisons the assistant she suspects will steal her husband. An actor can’t abide his role being given to another and bludgeons his understudy. The son drowns his father’s new bride so she won’t get his inheritance.
But lest we think jealousy exists merely as a movie trope, consider these scriptural examples:
- Joseph’s brothers felt threatened by their father’s love for Joseph so they captured and sold their brother into slavery (Acts 7:9).
- When the young warrior’s success and popularity grew, King Saul feared David would steal his throne. He then dedicated his life to slaying David (1 Sam 18:6–7; 20:31).
- The Jewish leaders were certain the apostles would lure away their power and their followers. So they formed mobs, started riots, arrested, and plotted to kill them (Acts 5:16–18; 13:45; 17:4–5; 23:12–13).
While global workers probably won’t plot murder, we can certainly be jealous of colleagues whom we fear will steal our husband’s affections. Or of teammates we think threaten our roles as mothers because they relate to our teens better than we do.
But I propose that it’s far more likely we feel jealousy toward those we think will take our ministry or our disciples.
We may become jealous of others who spend time with “our flock” or the gifted coworker who seems to easily collect disciples. Perhaps we start a small group but another expat is a more effective teacher. We wonder if they will attract our group members. We can feel threatened by their personality, spiritual gifts, or enthusiasm. We see their congregation grow and fear that ours will gravitate to the more exciting work across town.
Then resentment and contempt creep in as we imagine our territory has been encroached upon or fear that our ministry will disappear. Left unchecked, we may even entertain thoughts of sabotaging their efforts or slandering their name in an effort to hold on to our precious work.
I had a mentee I encouraged to pursue her dream to enter vocational ministry. When I left for home assignment, I asked my teammate to help her reach this goal, but I fully expected to resume my role when I got back. But because my teammate had more dynamic plans and strategies, I almost convinced myself (albeit incorrectly) she meant to keep my mentee.
Today, I can be jealous of younger, more educated women. As they get opportunities to enter spheres of ministry that were not available to me, I fear these new leaders will squeeze me out. And if I don’t stop my thoughts, I will begin to shut these women down rather than support and empower them. (Ironically an older woman once told me she wished she could have my ministry.)
Maybe we feel our jealousy is godly, as the apostle Paul’s was for his congregation in Corinth. We sincerely desire to ensure that our disciples remain faithful to Christ (2 Cor 11:2). A little soul searching can determine if our jealousy is truly of God or not. We may simply want to stay in control or find significance in our work.
Once we’ve confessed the seeds of jealousy in our heart, let’s return to the truth: God gives us all the good gifts we need (Rom 8:32). He has created each of us to do special and unique things (Eph 2:10). And while we may plant, and others water, only God makes the seed grow (1 Cor 3:6).
Since nothing we have really belongs to us anyway, and God’s love for us isn’t dependent on our achievements or our possessions (Rom 8:38), we can live securely and generously in the One who can never be stolen from us.
What are afraid of losing? Who do you feel is a threat to the things you most want to keep? How might you release your jealousy to the One you cannot lose?
