Conquering a Destructive Work of the Flesh: Jealousy
Bob Yandian
“If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.” James 3:14
Jealousy is really a manifestation of self-centeredness, and self-centeredness is the root of sin. Sin starts with self: it’s all about you—not about God, and not about others. The Bible says to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Then it’s okay to love yourself, but from there, love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Don’t put yourself above God or between God and others. Philippians 2:3 tells us there is an even higher level of love—considering others better than yourself.
Let’s define jealousy. Jealousy is a mental sin. It demands exclusive devotion and is intolerant of rivalry. It’s a total preoccupation with self. Jealousy magnifies yourself while looking down on others. It’s a demonstration of pride. In fact, pride was the major cause of Lucifer’s rebellion and fall. Lucifer became jealous of God. He became jealous of the elect angels. Though he had been given so much—he was number four in all creation, right under the Godhead—he wasn’t satisfied.
Lucifer was called the anointed cherub that covers. The cherubim were the highest-ranking angels, and Lucifer was the highest-ranking of them all. He was in charge of praise and worship and had dominion over the earth. But he became jealous, and it caused his downfall.
Jealousy is resentful of the blessings, successes, and status of others. It’s resentful of the attractiveness or attention others receive. A jealous person demands all the attention for themselves. Jealousy is pure selfishness and is incapable of love. It manifests itself as superiority and arrogance. It magnifies the faults of others while ignoring their strengths. It replaces admiration for others with envy and anger.
Jealousy never stops with simple envy. The jealous person wants to destroy others, to remove them, to eliminate their influence. That’s exactly what Lucifer tried to do with God. It’s a God complex—the jealous person wants all the recognition, all the praise, and will do whatever it takes to get it.
Jealousy overlooks the fact that people are called and gifted by God. The jealous person doesn’t understand the gifts that accompany a calling. They want the gifts, but they don’t want the responsibility or the calling. Instead of seeking God for their own unique gifts, they imitate others they envy, constantly chasing an image of someone more popular, never being satisfied with who God made them to be.
The source of jealousy is the flesh—the sin nature inside each of us. Galatians 5:19-20 says, “The works of the flesh are evident.” That means they will eventually show up on the outside. No outward sin starts on the outside. Every sin starts in the heart, in the thoughts. Nobody commits murder without first harboring hatred inside. Sin begins internally, then manifests externally if not dealt with.
Galatians 5 lists jealousy right alongside other works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, and jealousy. Jealousy becomes evident, and the flesh can’t produce anything unless it first gains control of your thinking. Your mind is the swing vote. If you’re spiritually minded, you will produce life and peace. If you are carnally minded, you will produce the works of the flesh, including jealousy.
The flesh can’t produce life. It only produces corruption and death. This is why we must renew our minds with the Word of God. Fill your mind with God’s Word so that when temptation comes, you respond with, “It is written,” just like Jesus did in the wilderness.
Jealousy in Unbelievers and Believers
Romans 1:28-29 says: “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind… being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy…” The word “envy” is another word for jealousy. This passage describes unbelievers who have rejected God. They are filled with every kind of evil, including jealousy.
But jealousy also shows up in believers. James 3:14-16 says: “If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” Jealousy in the heart of a believer can cause confusion and open the door to every evil thing. This is why it is so dangerous.
A believer can commit any sin a sinner can—except rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord. But when a believer operates in jealousy, it cuts off joy, peace, productivity, and rewards. The power to overcome jealousy comes through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. “If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Jealousy even played a role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Mark 15:10 says, “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” The religious leaders weren’t primarily angry over doctrinal disagreements—they were jealous of Jesus’ popularity. The larger His crowds grew, the more enraged they became.
The same thing happened with Paul. Acts 13:45 says, “When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.” Acts 17:5 says the same thing happened in Thessalonica. Paul’s ministry grew, and jealousy rose up in the hearts of the religious leaders.
Jealousy caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. Acts 7:9 says, “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt.” Jealousy split the nation of Israel. Isaiah 11:13 says, “The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off.” Ephraim’s jealousy contributed to the division between the ten northern tribes and the two southern tribes.
Jealousy was such a problem that God instituted a special offering for it under the Law of Moses. Numbers 5:11-31 describes the jealousy offering. God takes jealousy seriously because of the destruction it causes.
When Jealousy Can Be Righteous
Not all jealousy is wrong. There is a godly form of jealousy. God is jealous over us, but His jealousy is pure, protective, and based on love. A husband’s healthy jealousy over his wife—being protective of her—is normal and even appreciated. But that same jealousy, if unchecked, can become possessive, controlling, and destructive.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 says, “For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire.” Uncontrolled jealousy in marriage can lead to emotional and physical abuse. Wives become servants to jealous husbands, forced to give an account for every moment of their day. That’s not love—that’s bondage.
Jealousy also affects your physical health. Job 5:2 says, “Envy slays the simple.” Proverbs 14:30 says, “Envy is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 27:4 says, “Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?” It is one of the most dangerous mental sins in the Word of God.
What is the solution? Recognize it. Confess it. Deal with it quickly. Take authority over it with the Word of God. When jealousy rises up inside you, don’t ignore it. Speak the Word over it. Walk in love. Walk in the Spirit. Put others first. Rejoice in the blessings others receive. Don’t let jealousy rob you of joy, peace, or your eternal rewards.
If you’ve been struggling with jealousy, take a moment right now and ask God to forgive you. Fill your mind with the Word. Stay in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Refuse to give jealousy any place in your life. Remember, jealousy will destroy you, but love will build you up and produce life and peace.
