What You Should Know About Jealousy

WHAT is jealousy? It is an intense emotion that can make a person feel anxious, sad, or angry. We may experience jealousy when someone appears to be more successful at a task than we are. Or we may feel jealous when a friend receives more praise than we do. But is it always wrong to be jealous?

People overcome by jealousy tend to be suspicious of potential rivals. King Saul of ancient Israel was an example of this. At first he loved his armor-bearer, David, even promoting him to be a leader of the army. (1 Samuel 16:21; 18:5) Then one day King Saul heard women praising David with the words: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7) Saul should not have allowed this to affect his good relationship with David. However, he took offense. “Saul was continually looking suspiciously at David from that day forward.”​—1 Samuel 18:9.

A jealous person may not wish another harm. He or she may just resent the success of a companion and crave to have the same qualities or circumstances. On the other hand, envy is a particularly negative form of jealousy. An envious person may secretly withhold good from the one who arouses his jealousy or may wish that harm will befall that one. Sometimes, an envious person cannot keep his feelings secret. He may be driven to harm another openly, just as King Saul tried to murder David. On more than one occasion, Saul threw a spear in an attempt “to pin David to the wall.”​—1 Samuel 18:11; 19:10.

‘But I am not a jealous person,’ you may respond. True, jealousy may not control your life. To some extent, however, all of us are affected by jealousy​—our own jealous feelings and those of others. Although quick to notice jealousy in others, we may be slow to see it in ourselves.

“A Tendency to Envy”

The record of sinful human nature as revealed in God’s Word, the Bible, often highlights sins of envy. Do you recall the account of Cain and Abel? Both of these sons of Adam and Eve offered sacrifices to God. Abel did so because he was a man of faith. (Hebrews 11:4) He had faith in God’s ability to fulfill His grand purpose respecting the earth. (Genesis 1:28; 3:15; Hebrews 11:1) Abel also believed that God would reward faithful humans with life in the coming earthly Paradise. (Hebrews 11:6) Thus, God showed his pleasure with Abel’s sacrifice. If Cain had truly loved his brother, he would have been happy that God blessed Abel. Instead, Cain “grew hot with great anger.”​—Genesis 4:5.

God urged Cain to do good so that he too could receive a blessing. Then God warned: “If you do not turn to doing good, there is sin crouching at the entrance, and for you is its craving; and will you, for your part, get the mastery over it?” (Genesis 4:7) Sadly, Cain did not master his jealous anger. It drove him to murder his righteous brother. (1 John 3:12) Since then, fights and wars have claimed hundreds of millions of lives. “Some of the basic causes of war may be a desire for more land, a desire for more wealth, a desire for more power, or a desire for security,” explains The World Book Encyclopedia.

True Christians do not take part in this world’s wars. (John 17:16) Sadly, though, individual Christians sometimes get embroiled in verbal fights. If other members of the congregation take sides, these fights can turn into harmful verbal wars. “From what source are there wars and from what source are there fights among you?” the Bible writer James asked fellow believers. (James 4:1) He answered that question by exposing their materialistic greed and added, “You go on . . . coveting,” or being “jealous.” (James 4:2, footnote) Yes, materialism can lead to coveting and being jealous of those who seem to enjoy better circumstances. For this reason, James warned against the human “tendency to envy.”​—James 4:5.

What benefit is there in analyzing the causes of jealousy? Well, this can help us to be honest and to promote better relations with others. It can also help us to be more understanding, tolerant, and forgiving. Best of all, it highlights man’s desperate need for God’s loving provision of salvation and rescue from sinful human tendencies.​—Romans 7:24, 25.

A World Without Sinful Jealousy

From a human viewpoint, a world without sinful jealousy may sound impossible. Author Rom Landau admitted: “The accumulated wisdom of many ages, with all that philosophers . . . and psychologists have said on the subject, offers no guidance to the man tormented by jealousy. . . . Has any doctor ever cured a man of jealousy?”

But God’s Word holds out the hope of attaining perfect human life in a new world where no one will ever again be plagued by ungodly jealousy or envy. Furthermore, the peace of that new world will not be disrupted by people who display such wicked characteristics.​—Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 3:13.

Yet, not all jealousy is improper. In fact, the Bible states that Jehovah “is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14) What does that mean? And what does the Bible say about proper jealousy? At the same time, how can a person gain the mastery over improper jealousy? See the articles that follow.

Jealousy Nearly Ruined My Life

JEALOUSY really began to affect me badly when I got married to my second husband, Mark.a Between us, we had to care for a number of stepchildren and deal with our former mates. The situation was sometimes unbearable. Whenever there was a family confrontation, it seemed that Mark did not stand up for me. I began to feel that he still loved his ex-wife. Instead of controlling my jealousy, I allowed it to take over my life. I felt threatened whenever Mark’s ex-wife was around.

I would constantly watch Mark, even watching his eyes to see where he was looking. I read into his looks things that were not even there. Sometimes I would openly accuse him of still being in love with his ex-wife. On one occasion he was so distressed by this that he got up and left a Christian assembly. I felt guilty before Jehovah. I made my family’s life miserable because ultimately the children were also affected. I hated myself for what I was doing, but no matter how hard I tried, I just could not seem to control my jealousy.

Instead of helping me, Mark began to retaliate. When I accused him, he would shout at me, “Jealous, you’re just jealous.” He even seemed to go out of his way to make me jealous. Maybe he thought that this would cure my jealousy, but it only made matters worse. He started to look at other women, commenting on how beautiful they looked. This made me feel even more inferior and unwanted. It got to the point where another emotion​—hatred—​raised its ugly head. At that stage, I was so mixed-up that I just wanted him and his family out of my life.

When the Bible says that “jealousy is rottenness to the bones,” that is exactly what it is. (Proverbs 14:30) My health now started to be affected. I developed stomach ulcers that took a long time to heal. I continued to make my life miserable by being suspicious of everything that Mark did. I would go through his pockets, and if I found telephone numbers, I would phone to see who answered. Deep down I was so ashamed of myself, I would cry because of the shame before Jehovah. Yet I couldn’t stop myself. I was my own worst enemy.

My spirituality suffered to the point that I couldn’t pray anymore. I loved Jehovah and really wanted to do what was right. I knew all the scriptures relating to husbands and wives, but I was not able to apply them. For the first time in my life, I no longer wanted to live, despite the fact that I had wonderful children.

The elders in the Christian congregation were a great encouragement and tried their best to help me. But when they brought up the matter of my jealousy, I would deny it out of embarrassment, not wanting to admit that I had such a problem.

Eventually, my health deteriorated to such a degree that I had to go into the hospital for an operation. While there I realized that life could not go on as it was. Mark and I decided to separate for three months to examine our situation without being so emotionally involved. During this time something wonderful happened. In the Awake! magazine there appeared an article entitled “Help for Adult Children of Alcoholics.”b

You see, my mother was an alcoholic. Although I wasn’t physically abused, my parents never showed physical affection for each other or toward me. I cannot remember my mother ever holding me in her arms or telling me she loved me. So I actually grew up not really knowing how to love or, just as important, how to be loved.

My mother often told me about my father’s affairs and that she couldn’t trust him. So I guess I grew up not trusting men in general. Because of my upbringing, I always felt inferior to others, especially other women. Reading that Awake! article helped me to grasp the significance of these things. For the first time, I understood the root causes of my problem with jealousy.

I showed the Awake! article to my husband, Mark, and it also helped him to understand me better. Soon he and I were able to follow the Bible’s advice to couples who are thinking of separating. We made up. (1 Corinthians 7:10, 11) Now our marriage is better than it has ever been. We do most things together, especially when Christian activities are involved. Mark shows more empathy. Almost every day he tells me how much he loves me, and now I really believe it.

Whenever I know we are going to come into contact with Mark’s ex-wife, I pray to Jehovah for strength, asking him to help me behave in a mature Christian way. And it works. Even my feelings of animosity toward her are going away. I no longer dwell on negative thoughts or let my imagination run away with me.

I still get some improper feelings of jealousy. Only perfect life in God’s new world will completely rid me of it. In the meantime, I have learned to control jealousy, instead of allowing it to control me. Yes, jealousy nearly ruined my life, but thanks to Jehovah and his organization, I am now a much happier person, and my health is back to normal. Once again I have a strong relationship with my God, Jehovah.​—Contributed.

The Envious Man

THE Hebrew language has only one root word for “jealousy.” When referring to sinful humans, the Hebrew may be translated “envy” or “rivalry.” (Genesis 26:14; Ecclesiastes 4:4) The Greek language, however, has more than one word for “jealousy.” The word zeʹlos, like its Hebrew equivalent, may refer to both righteous and sinful jealousy. Another Greek word, phthoʹnos, has a purely negative sense. In the New World Translation, it is always rendered “envy.”

How was the word phthoʹnos used in ancient Greek? The Anchor Bible Dictionary states: “Unlike the greedy man, the man afflicted by phthonos does not necessarily want the goods he resents another having; he simply does not want that other to have them. He differs from the competitive man in that his aim, unlike that of the competitive man, is not to win but to keep others from winning.”

The envious man is often unaware that his own attitude is the main cause of his problems. “One of the peculiarities of phthonos,” the same dictionary explains, “is its lack of self-awareness. The phthoneros man, if called upon to justify his conduct, will always tell himself and others that those he attacks deserve it and that it is the unfairness of the situation that moves him to criticize. If asked how he can possibly speak of a friend in the way he does, he will say that his criticisms have the friend’s best interests at heart.”

The Gospel writers Matthew and Mark use the Greek word phthoʹnos to describe the motive of those responsible for the murder of Jesus. (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10) Yes, they were driven by envy. The same harmful emotion has turned apostates into vicious haters of their former brothers. (1 Timothy 6:3-5) No wonder that envious men are debarred from entry into God’s Kingdom! Jehovah God has decreed that all who continue to be “full of envy” are “deserving of death.”​—Romans 1:29, 32; Galatians 5:21.

Jealous for the Pure Worship of Jehovah

“Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, he is a jealous God.”​—EXODUS 34:14.

1. What is God’s dominant quality, and how does it relate to his jealousy?

JEHOVAH describes himself as “a jealous God.” You may wonder why, since the word “jealousy” has negative connotations. Of course, God’s dominant quality is love. (1 John 4:8) Any feelings of jealousy on his part must therefore be for mankind’s good. In fact, we shall see that God’s jealousy is vital to the peace and harmony of the universe.

2. What are some ways of rendering the Hebrew words for “jealousy”?

² The related Hebrew words for “jealousy” occur over 80 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Almost half of these references are to Jehovah God. “When applied to God,” explains G. H. Livingston, “the concept of jealousy does not carry the connotation of a warped emotion, but, rather, of an insistence on the singleness of worship of Jehovah.” (The Pentateuch in Its Cultural Environment) Thus, the New World Translation sometimes renders the Hebrew noun “insistence on exclusive devotion.” (Ezekiel 5:13) Other appropriate renderings are “ardor” or “zeal.”​—Psalm 79:5; Isaiah 9:7.

3. In what ways can jealousy sometimes serve a good purpose?

³ Man was created with the capacity to feel jealous, but mankind’s fall into sin has resulted in a distortion of jealousy. Nevertheless, human jealousy can be a force for good. It can move a person to protect a loved one from bad influences. Moreover, humans can properly show jealousy for Jehovah and his worship. (1 Kings 19:10) To convey the correct understanding of such jealousy for Jehovah, the Hebrew noun may be translated “toleration of no rivalry” toward him.​—2 Kings 10:16.

The Golden Calf

4. What command involving righteous jealousy was prominent in God’s Law to Israel?

⁴ An example of righteous jealousy is what occurred after the Israelites received the Law at Mount Sinai. Repeatedly, they had been warned not to worship man-made gods. Jehovah told them: “I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion [or, “a God who is jealous (zealous); a God not tolerating rivalry”].” (Exodus 20:5, footnote; compare Exodus 20:22, 23; 22:20; 23:13, 24, 32, 33.) Jehovah entered into a covenant with the Israelites, promising to bless them and to bring them into the Promised Land. (Exodus 23:22, 31) And the people said: “All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do and be obedient.”​—Exodus 24:7.

5, 6. (a) How did the Israelites sin gravely while encamped at Mount Sinai? (b) How did Jehovah and his loyal worshipers show righteous jealousy at Sinai?

⁵ Nevertheless, the Israelites soon sinned against God. They were still encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses had been on the mountain many days, receiving further instruction from God, and the people pressured Moses’ brother, Aaron, to make a god for them. Aaron complied and made a calf out of gold that the people provided. It was claimed that this idol represented Jehovah. (Psalm 106:20) The next day they offered sacrifices and kept “bowing down to it.” Then they had “a good time.”​—Exodus 32:1, 4, 6, 8, 17-19.

⁶ Moses descended from the mountain while the Israelites were celebrating. On viewing their disgraceful conduct, he called out: “Who is on Jehovah’s side?” (Exodus 32:25, 26) The sons of Levi gathered to Moses, and he instructed them to take swords and execute the idolatrous revelers. Demonstrating their jealousy for God’s pure worship, the Levites killed about 3,000 of their guilty brothers. Jehovah reinforced this action by sending a plague upon the survivors. (Exodus 32:28, 35) Then God repeated the command: “You must not prostrate yourself to another god, because Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, he is a jealous God.”​—Exodus 34:14.

Baal of Peor

7, 8. (a) How did many Israelites fall into gross idolatry in connection with Baal of Peor? (b) How did the scourge from Jehovah come to an end?

⁷ Forty years later, when the nation of Israel was about to enter the Promised Land, attractive Moabite and Midianite women lured many Israelites to come and enjoy their hospitality. These men should have rejected intimate association with worshipers of false gods. (Exodus 34:12, 15) Instead, they ran like ‘bulls to the slaughter,’ committing fornication with the women and joining them in bowing down to Baal of Peor.​—Proverbs 7:21, 22; Numbers 25:1-3.

⁸ Jehovah sent a scourge to kill those who got involved in this shameful sex worship. God also commanded the innocent Israelites to kill their guilty brothers. In brazen defiance, a chieftain of Israel named Zimri brought a Midianite princess into his tent to have relations with her. On seeing this, the God-fearing priest Phinehas executed the immoral couple. The scourge then stopped, and God declared: “Phinehas . . . has turned my wrath away from the Israelites; he displayed among them the same jealous anger that moved me, and therefore in my jealousy I did not exterminate the Israelites.” (Numbers 25:11, The New English Bible) Although the nation was saved from destruction, at least 23,000 Israelites died. (1 Corinthians 10:8) They lost out on their long-cherished hope of entering the Promised Land.

A Warning Lesson

9. What befell the people of Israel and Judah because they were not jealous for the pure worship of Jehovah?

⁹ Sadly, the Israelites soon forgot these lessons. They did not prove jealous for the pure worship of Jehovah. “With their graven images they kept inciting [God] to jealousy.” (Psalm 78:58) As a result, Jehovah allowed ten tribes of Israel to be taken captive by the Assyrians in 740 B.C.E. The remaining two-tribe kingdom of Judah suffered a similar punishment when their capital city of Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 607 B.C.E. Many were killed, and the survivors were taken captive to Babylon. What a warning example for all Christians today!​—1 Corinthians 10:6, 11.

10. What will happen to unrepentant idolaters?

¹⁰ One third of earth’s population​—some 1,900 million—​now profess to be Christian. (1994 Britannica Book of the Year) Most of these belong to churches that use icons, images, and crosses in their worship. Jehovah did not spare his own people who incited him to jealousy through their idolatry. Neither will he spare professed Christians who worship with the aid of material objects. “God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth,” said Jesus Christ. (John 4:24) Furthermore, the Bible warns Christians to guard against idolatry. (1 John 5:21) Unrepentant idolaters are among those who will not inherit God’s Kingdom.​—Galatians 5:20, 21.

11. How might a Christian become guilty of idolatry without bowing down to an idol, and what will help one to avoid such idolatry? (Ephesians 5:5)

¹¹ Though a true Christian would never bow down to an idol, he must avoid anything God views as idolatrous, unclean, and sinful. For example, the Bible warns: “Deaden . . . your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of those things the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:5, 6) Obedience to these words requires the rejection of immoral behavior. This calls for the avoidance of entertainment that is designed to arouse unclean sexual appetite. Instead of satisfying such an appetite, true Christians are jealous for God’s pure worship.

Later Examples of Godly Jealousy

12, 13. How did Jesus set an outstanding example in displaying jealousy for God’s pure worship?

¹² The most outstanding example of a man who showed jealousy for God’s pure worship was Jesus Christ. In the first year of his ministry, he saw greedy merchants operating in the courtyards of the temple. Visiting Jews may have needed the services of money changers to exchange their foreign currency for money that would be acceptable as temple tax. They also needed to buy animals and birds in order to offer the sacrifices required by God’s Law. Such business transactions should have been carried on outside the temple courtyards. Worse, the merchants were evidently taking undue advantage of the religious needs of their brothers by charging exorbitant prices. Consumed with jealousy for God’s pure worship, Jesus used a whip to drive out the sheep and the cattle. He also overturned the tables of the money changers, saying: “Stop making the house of my Father a house of merchandise!” (John 2:14-16) Thus Jesus fulfilled the words of Psalm 69:9: “Sheer zeal [or, “jealousy,” Byington] for your house has eaten me up.”

¹³ Three years later Jesus again observed greedy merchants operating in Jehovah’s temple. Would he cleanse it a second time? His jealousy for God’s pure worship was just as strong then as it was when he started his ministry. He drove out both the sellers and the buyers. And he gave an even stronger reason for his actions, saying: “Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a cave of robbers.” (Mark 11:17) What a marvelous example of persistence in showing godly jealousy!

14. How should Jesus’ jealousy for pure worship affect us?

¹⁴ The personality of the now glorified Lord Jesus Christ has not changed. (Hebrews 13:8) In this 20th century, he is just as jealous for the pure worship of his Father as he was when he was on earth. This can be seen in Jesus’ messages to the seven congregations recorded in the book of Revelation. These have their major application now, in “the Lord’s day.” (Revelation 1:10; 2:1–3:22) In vision the apostle John saw the glorified Jesus Christ with “eyes as a fiery flame.” (Revelation 1:14) This indicates that nothing escapes Christ’s notice as he inspects the congregations to ensure that they remain clean and fit for Jehovah’s service. Present-day Christians need to keep in mind Jesus’ warning against trying to serve two masters​—God and riches. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus told materialistic members of the Laodicean congregation: “Because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. . . . Be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:14-19) By word and example, appointed congregation elders should help their fellow believers to avoid the trap of materialism. The elders must also protect the flock from the moral corruption of this sex-oriented world. Moreover, God’s people dare not tolerate any Jezebel influence in the congregation.​—Hebrews 12:14, 15; Revelation 2:20.

15. How did the apostle Paul imitate Jesus in showing jealousy for Jehovah’s worship?

¹⁵ The apostle Paul was an imitator of Christ. To protect newly baptized Christians from spiritually unwholesome influences, he said: “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy.” (2 Corinthians 11:2) Prior to this, Paul’s jealousy for pure worship had moved him to instruct this same congregation to disfellowship an unrepentant fornicator who was a contaminating influence. The inspired instructions given on that occasion have been of great help to elders today as they strive to keep the more than 75,500 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses clean.​—1 Corinthians 5:1, 9-13.

God’s Jealousy Benefits His People

16, 17. (a) When God punished ancient Judah, what attitude did the nations show? (b) After Judah’s 70 years of captivity, how did Jehovah display his jealousy for Jerusalem?

¹⁶ When God punished the people of Judah by allowing them to be taken captive to Babylon, they were mocked. (Psalm 137:3) In jealous hatred, the Edomites even helped the Babylonians bring calamity upon God’s people, and Jehovah took note of this. (Ezekiel 35:11; 36:15) In captivity the survivors repented, and after 70 years Jehovah restored them to their land.

¹⁷ At first, the people of Judah were in a desperate plight. The city of Jerusalem and its temple lay in ruins. But the surrounding nations opposed all efforts to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 4:4, 23, 24) How did Jehovah feel about this? The inspired record states: “This is what Jehovah of armies has said: ‘I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great jealousy. With great indignation I am feeling indignant against the nations that are at ease; because I, for my part, felt indignant to only a little extent, but they, for their part, helped toward calamity.’ Therefore this is what Jehovah has said, ‘I shall certainly return to Jerusalem with mercies. My own house will be built in her,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.” (Zechariah 1:14-16) True to this promise, the temple and the city of Jerusalem were successfully rebuilt.

18. What did true Christians experience during the first world war?

¹⁸ The true Christian congregation had a similar experience in the 20th century. During the first world war, Jehovah disciplined his people because they had not been strictly neutral in that worldly conflict. (John 17:16) God allowed the political powers to oppress them, and the clergy of Christendom rejoiced over this calamity. In fact, clergymen were in the forefront in getting the political element to ban the work of the Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then called.​—Revelation 11:7, 10.

19. How has Jehovah shown jealousy for his worship since 1919?

¹⁹ However, Jehovah showed jealousy for his worship and restored his repentant people to his favor in the postwar year of 1919. (Revelation 11:11, 12) As a result, the number of Jehovah’s praisers has increased from fewer than 4,000 in 1918 to some 5 million today. (Isaiah 60:22) Soon, Jehovah’s jealousy for his pure worship will be manifested in more dramatic ways.

Future Acts of Divine Jealousy

20. What will God soon do to show his jealousy for pure worship?

²⁰ For centuries the churches of Christendom have followed the course of the apostate Jews who incited Jehovah to jealousy. (Ezekiel 8:3, 17, 18) Soon Jehovah God will act by putting a drastic thought into the hearts of members of the United Nations. This will move these political powers to desolate Christendom and the rest of false religion. (Revelation 17:16, 17) True worshipers will survive that frightful execution of divine judgment. They will respond to the words of heavenly creatures who say: “Praise Jah, you people! . . . For he has executed judgment upon the great harlot [false religion] who corrupted the earth with her fornication [her false teachings and support of corrupt politics], and he has avenged the blood of his slaves at her hand.”​—Revelation 19:1, 2.

21. (a) What will Satan and his system do after false religion has been destroyed? (b) How will God respond?

²¹ What will happen after the destruction of the world empire of false religion? Satan will incite the political powers to mount a global attack upon Jehovah’s people. How will the true God react to this attempt by Satan to wipe true worship off the face of the earth? Ezekiel 38:19-23 tells us: “In my ardor [or, jealousy], in the fire of my fury, I [Jehovah] shall have to speak. . . . And I will bring myself into judgment with him [Satan], with pestilence and with blood; and a flooding downpour and hailstones, fire and sulphur I shall rain down upon him and upon his bands and upon the many peoples that will be with him. And I shall certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”​—See also Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8.

22. How can we show that we are jealous for the pure worship of Jehovah?

²² How comforting it is to know that the Sovereign of the universe jealously cares for his true worshipers! Out of deep appreciation for his undeserved kindness, let us be jealous for the pure worship of Jehovah God. With zeal, may we continue to preach the good news and confidently await the grand day when Jehovah magnifies and sanctifies his great name.​—Matthew 24:14.

[Box on page 12]

Love Is Not Jealous

REGARDING envy, the 19th-century Bible scholar Albert Barnes wrote: “It is one of the most common manifestations of wickedness, and shows clearly the deep depravity of man.” He further said: “He who could trace all wars and contentions and worldly plans to their source​—all the schemes and purposes of even professed Christians, that do so much to mar their religion and to make them worldly-minded, to their real origin—​would be surprised to find how much is to be attributed to envy. We are pained that others are more prosperous than we are; we desire to possess what others have, though we have no right to it; and this leads to the various guilty methods which are pursued to lessen their enjoyment of it, or to obtain it ourselves, or to show that they do not possess as much as they are commonly supposed to. . . . for thus the spirit of envy in our bosoms will be gratified.”​—Romans 1:29; James 4:5.

In contrast, Barnes made an interesting statement regarding love, which “envieth not.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, King James Version) He wrote: “Love does not envy others the happiness which they enjoy; it delights in their welfare; and as their happiness is increased . . . , those who are influenced by love . . . would not diminish it; they would not embarrass them in the possession; they would not detract from that happiness; they would not murmur or repine that they themselves are not so highly favoured. . . . If we loved others​—if we rejoiced in their happiness, we should not envy them.”

Love Conquers Improper Jealousy

“Love is not jealous.”​—1 CORINTHIANS 13:4.

1, 2. (a) What did Jesus tell his disciples about love? (b) Is it possible to be both loving and jealous, and why do you so answer?

LOVE is an identifying mark of true Christianity. “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves,” said Jesus Christ. (John 13:35) The apostle Paul was inspired to explain how love should affect Christian relationships. Among other things, he wrote: “Love is not jealous.”​—1 Corinthians 13:4.

² When Paul wrote those words, he was referring to improper jealousy. Otherwise he could not have told the same congregation: “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy.” (2 Corinthians 11:2) His “godly jealousy” was aroused because of men who were a corrupting influence in the congregation. This moved Paul to write Corinthian Christians a second inspired letter containing much loving counsel.​—2 Corinthians 11:3-5.

Jealousy Among Christians

3. How did a problem involving jealousy develop among the Corinthian Christians?

³ In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul had to handle a problem that was preventing these new Christians from getting along with one another. They were elevating certain men, being “puffed up individually in favor of the one against the other.” This led to divisions within the congregation, with different ones saying: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to Apollos,” “But I to Cephas.” (1 Corinthians 1:12; 4:6) Under guidance by the holy spirit, the apostle Paul was able to get to the root of the problem. The Corinthians were acting like fleshly-minded people, not like “spiritual men.” Thus, Paul wrote: “You are yet fleshly. For whereas there are jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and are you not walking as men do?”​—1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

4. What illustration did Paul use to help his brothers arrive at the right view of one another, and what lesson can we learn from this?

⁴ Paul helped the Corinthians to appreciate the correct view of the talents and abilities of various ones in the congregation. He asked: “Who makes you to differ from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive? If, now, you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7) In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul explained that those who were part of the congregation were like the different members of a human body, such as the hand, the eye, and the ear. He pointed out that God made the members of the body in such a way that they care for one another. Paul also wrote: “If a member is glorified, all the other members rejoice with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26) All of God’s servants today should apply this principle in their relationship with one another. Instead of being jealous of another person because of his assignment or accomplishments in God’s service, we should rejoice with that one.

5. What is revealed at James 4:5, and how do the Scriptures highlight the truth of these words?

⁵ Admittedly, this is easier said than done. The Bible writer James reminds us that “a tendency to envy” resides in every sinful human. (James 4:5) The first human death came about because Cain yielded to his improper jealousy. The Philistines persecuted Isaac because they envied his growing prosperity. Rachel was jealous of her sister’s fruitfulness in childbearing. Jacob’s sons were jealous of the favor shown toward their younger brother Joseph. Miriam evidently was jealous of her non-Israelite sister-in-law. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram enviously formed a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron. King Saul became jealous of the military successes of David. No doubt jealousy was also a factor causing Jesus’ disciples to get into repeated arguments about who was the greatest among them. The fact is that no imperfect human is totally free of the sinful “tendency to envy.”​—Genesis 4:4-8; 26:14; 30:1; 37:11; Numbers 12:1, 2; 16:1-3; Psalm 106:16; 1 Samuel 18:7-9; Matthew 20:21, 24; Mark 9:33, 34; Luke 22:24.

In the Congregation

6. How can elders control the tendency to envy?

⁶ All Christians need to guard against envy and improper jealousy. This includes bodies of elders appointed to care for the congregations of God’s people. If an elder has lowliness of mind, he will not ambitiously try to outshine others. On the other hand, if a certain elder has outstanding abilities as an organizer or a public speaker, the others will rejoice over this, viewing it as a blessing to the congregation. (Romans 12:15, 16) A brother may be making fine progress, giving evidence of producing the fruitage of God’s spirit in his life. In considering his qualifications, the elders should be careful not to magnify some minor failing to justify not recommending him as a ministerial servant or an elder. That would betray a lack of love and reasonableness.

7. What problem may develop when a Christian gets some theocratic assignment?

⁷ If someone receives a theocratic assignment or a spiritual blessing, others in the congregation need to guard against envy. For example, one capable sister may be used more often than another to give demonstrations at Christian meetings. This may give rise to jealousy on the part of some sisters. A similar problem may have existed between Euodia and Syntyche of the Philippi congregation. Such present-day women may need kindly encouragement from the elders to be humble and to be “of the same mind in the Lord.”​—Philippians 2:2, 3; 4:2, 3.

8. Jealousy can lead to what sinful acts?

⁸ A Christian may know of a past failing on the part of one who is now blessed with privileges in the congregation. (James 3:2) Out of jealousy, there may be a temptation to speak to others about this and to challenge that one’s assignment in the congregation. This would be contrary to love, which “covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Jealous talk can disrupt the peace of a congregation. “If you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts,” warned the disciple James, “do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is the earthly, animal, demonic.”​—James 3:14, 15.

In Your Family

9. How can marriage mates control feelings of jealousy?

⁹ Many marriages fail because of improper jealousy. Showing a lack of trust in a marriage partner is not loving. (1 Corinthians 13:7) On the other hand, one mate may be insensitive to feelings of jealousy on the part of the other. For example, a wife may be jealous because of the attention that her husband gives to someone else of the opposite sex. Or a husband may become jealous because of the amount of time his wife spends caring for a needy relative. Embarrassed over such feelings, marriage mates may keep quiet and show their frustration in ways that complicate the problem. Instead, a jealous marriage mate needs to communicate and be honest about his or her feelings. In turn, the other mate needs to show understanding and give reassurance of his or her love. (Ephesians 5:28, 29) Both of them may need to allay feelings of jealousy by avoiding situations that give rise to it. Sometimes a Christian overseer may need to help his wife understand that he is giving limited, proper attention to members of the opposite sex in order to fulfill his responsibility as a shepherd of God’s flock. (Isaiah 32:2) Of course, an elder should be careful never to give any valid cause for jealousy. This requires balance, making sure that he spends time in strengthening his own marriage relationship.​—1 Timothy 3:5; 5:1, 2.

10. How can parents help their children to cope with feelings of jealousy?

¹⁰ Parents must also help their children to grasp the concept of improper jealousy. Children often get involved in squabbles that turn into fights. Frequently the root cause is jealousy. Because each child’s needs are unique, children cannot be treated identically. Moreover, children need to understand that each one of them has different strengths and weaknesses. If one child is always encouraged to do as well as the other, this may cultivate envy in one and pride in the other. Hence, parents should train their children to measure their progress by considering the examples in God’s Word, not by competing with one another. The Bible says: “Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.” Instead, “let each one prove what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.” (Galatians 5:26; 6:4) Most important, Christian parents need to help their children by means of a regular Bible study, highlighting the good and the bad examples contained in God’s Word.​—2 Timothy 3:15.

Examples of Mastering Jealousy

11. How was Moses a fine example in handling jealousy?

¹¹ Unlike power-hungry leaders of this world, “Moses was by far the meekest of all the men who were upon the surface of the ground.” (Numbers 12:3) When leadership over the Israelites became burdensome for Moses to carry alone, Jehovah caused His spirit to operate upon 70 other Israelites, empowering them to help Moses. When two of these men began to act like prophets, Joshua felt that this improperly detracted from Moses’ leadership. Joshua wanted to restrain the men, but Moses humbly reasoned: “Are you feeling jealous for me? No, I wish that all of Jehovah’s people were prophets, because Jehovah would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29) Yes, Moses was happy when others received privileges of service. He did not jealously want glory for himself.

12. What enabled Jonathan to avoid feelings of jealousy?

¹² A fine example of how love prevails over possible improper feelings of jealousy was provided by Jonathan, the son of Israelite King Saul. Jonathan was next in line to inherit the throne of his father, but Jehovah had chosen David, the son of Jesse, to be the next king. Many in Jonathan’s position would have been jealous of David, viewing him as a rival. However, Jonathan’s love for David prevented such a feeling from ever dominating him. Upon learning of Jonathan’s death, David could say: “I am distressed over you, my brother Jonathan, very pleasant you were to me. More wonderful was your love to me than the love from women.”​—2 Samuel 1:26.

The Most Outstanding Examples

13. Who is the best example in the matter of jealousy, and why?

¹³ Jehovah God is the most outstanding example of one who has mastery over even proper jealousy. He keeps such feelings under perfect control. Any powerful manifestation of divine jealousy is always in harmony with God’s love, justice, and wisdom.​—Isaiah 42:13, 14.

14. What example did Jesus set in contrast with Satan?

¹⁴ The second outstanding example of one showing mastery over jealousy is God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ. “Although he was existing in God’s form,” Jesus “gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.” (Philippians 2:6) What a sharp contrast to the course taken by the ambitious angel who became Satan the Devil! Like “the king of Babylon,” Satan jealously desired to “resemble the Most High” by setting himself up as a rival god in opposition to Jehovah. (Isaiah 14:4, 14; 2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan even tried to get Jesus to “fall down and do an act of worship” to him. (Matthew 4:9) But nothing could sway Jesus from his humble course of submission to Jehovah’s sovereignty. In contrast with Satan, Jesus “emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.” Jesus upheld the rightfulness of his Father’s rule, totally rejecting the Devil’s course of pride and jealousy. For Jesus’ faithfulness, “God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”​—Philippians 2:7-11.

Mastering Your Jealousy

15. Why must we be careful to curb feelings of jealousy?

¹⁵ Unlike God and Christ, Christians are imperfect. Being sinful, at times they may act out of sinful jealousy. Instead of allowing jealousy to move us to criticize a fellow believer about some minor failing or imagined wrong, therefore, it is important that we meditate on these inspired words: “Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. Why should you cause desolation to yourself?”​—Ecclesiastes 7:16.

16. What fine advice on jealousy was given in a past issue of this magazine?

¹⁶ On the subject of jealousy, The Watch Tower of March 15, 1911, cautioned: “While we should be very zealous, very jealous in the Lord’s cause, yet we must be very sure that it is not a private matter; and should consider whether or not we are ‘busybodies.’ Then, too, we should consider whether it may be a proper thing for the elders to deal with and whether or not it would be our duty to go to the elders. We should all have a great deal of jealousy for the Lord’s cause and the Lord’s work, but be very careful that it is not the bitter kind . . . in other words, we should be very sure that it is not jealousy of another, but jealousy for another, for his interests and best welfare.”​—1 Peter 4:15.

17. How can we avoid sinful acts of jealousy?

¹⁷ How can we as Christians avoid pride, jealousy, and envy? The solution lies in allowing a free flow of God’s holy spirit in our lives. For example, we need to pray for God’s spirit and for help in displaying its good fruitage. (Luke 11:13) We need to attend Christian meetings, which are opened with prayer and have God’s spirit and blessing upon them. Moreover, we need to study the Bible, which was inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) And we need to share in the Kingdom-preaching work being done with the power of Jehovah’s holy spirit. (Acts 1:8) Helping fellow Christians who have been crushed by some bad experience is another way of yielding to the good influence of God’s spirit. (Isaiah 57:15; 1 John 3:15-17) Zealously fulfilling all these Christian obligations will help to protect us from sinful practices of jealousy, for God’s Word states: “Keep walking by spirit and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.”​—Galatians 5:16.

18. Why will we not always have to struggle against improper feelings of jealousy?

¹⁸ Love is listed first among the fruits of God’s holy spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) Exercising love will help us to control sinful tendencies now. But what about the future? Millions of Jehovah’s servants have the hope of life in the coming earthly Paradise, where they can look forward to being uplifted to human perfection. In that new world, love will prevail and no one will succumb to improper feelings of jealousy, for “the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”​—Romans 8:21.