Jealousy is often defined as being envious or resentful
of the good fortune
or achievements of another. It has
commandeered a many soul into sabotaging the progress, success, and health of
families, business, and nations. It alone has destroyed more relationships than
can be counted. It arises from the depths of selfishness and insecurity. It is
a deadly poison that ultimately destroys its host.
Jealousy is a rival spirit that can
look at a coworker, family member, as a competitor instead of a co-laborer. We may want our business to succeed but we
want to make sure that we get the glory. A jealous person is more interested in
themselves receiving the attention then the company. That means, they would
rather see the company fail if it meant its success rewarded attention to
someone else other than themselves.
Jealousy will pervert one’s judgment
of another’s motives. When another is receiving praise the jealous person will
think “who do they think they are?” In reality, the person may not think they
are anything special but their work has promoted them in some form or fashion.
The moment ministers of the gospel
become competitors they have lost the heart of Jesus Christ. No longer do they
care about the mission of the Kingdom, but only seeing it as a means of
self-promotion. When we come to the place of humility where we conclude that as
long as Christ is exalted, we do not care who gets the glory. Then, we have
become true ambassadors of Christ.
There is a fable of an eagle which could out fly another, and the other didn't like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him:
"I wish you would bring down that eagle." The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some feathers to put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but didn't quite reach the rival eagle; it was flying too high. The envious eagle pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many that he couldn't fly, and then the sportsman turned around and killed him. My friend, if you are jealous, the only man you can hurt is yourself.
Everyone wants to be number one but what if you are number
two? Is being second a bad thing? Joseph in the bible was never number one but
he changed nations being number two. John the Baptist took 2nd so Jesus could
take first place. Daniel always had someone over him, he was usually 3rd in
line but he changed leaders and nations. Be an influence no matter where you
stand in line.
We must understand it is never a one man show. We don’t make
it to the top alone nor do we fail alone. People that surround us provide
support by adding to or taking away and thus deteriorating our effectiveness.
Quality in our friends, co-workers, associates, and consultants, can never be
underestimated. Proper vetting is worth the time and investment that will
reward us with success, less regret, and fewer painful experiences.
Jealousy is the number one tool of destruction that brings
about the demise of a person who otherwise could have been impactful in
increasing the forward progress in a church, organization, and community. Not
everyone can be number one. That doesn’t mean that number two, three, and four
are of no value. Leadership is the power of influence. Understanding my role in
a church, government, or organization, and knowing the value of my God-given
gifts and talents goes a long way in keeping my mind free from the cataracts of
jealousy perverting my vision.
One thing to remember, when I know the success is not about
me getting the glory, that my happiness is to see the success of the whole, then
satisfaction will keep me in the lane of my contribution.
Whether your title is the CEO or the water boy, without your
contribution it will not run effectively. Nor, does it work when the water boy
tries to be the CEO. Stay in the lane where you have been placed until another
door opens.
Reuben Egolf
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