Envy and Jealousy

I would like to share a story of a friend we have ministered to and is tied to envy and jealousy.  She is a special person in the Lord. She has special high level spiritual gifts. During worship and song, she would be in a spiritual Godly trance soaking in the presence of God.  We will call her Ruth.

In everyday life Ruth would discern evil people and one could see a change in her countenance. The evil was not something Ruth wanted to see.  From an early age people of all ages have targeted her and Ruth could not understand why.  Ruth was always very kind to everyone and always put others first. 

Ruth grew up to be a physically beautiful young woman.  Heads would turn when she came into a room.  Ruth did not think she was beautiful.  Many times, women would not like the attention she got from men and would treat her with contempt.  This resulted in many hurts from, family, friends, co-workers, and even church ministries. Ruth now stays away from people and the church.  She was targeted by Satan to destroy her like so many others.  Ruth has health issues as a result of these attacks.  Ruth couldn’t understand why people are so mean and ruthless.  Ruth doesn’t feel loved or worthy to be loved because of these attacks.

Satan will work in people to go after other people.  Satan will attempt to destroy our connection with God and our worship lifestyle honoring, surrendering, and revering God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

This teaching is about envy and jealousy and how it affects our health spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  Envy and jealousy are about wanting what others have. It is a painful, often resentful feeling of wanting someone else's possessions, achievements, attributes, or spiritual gifts from God. 

Why do we need to know more about the subject of envy and jealousy?  Because scripture warns us about envy and jealousy.  It is sin and it greatly affects our health. Envy and Jealousy are rottenness to the bones, Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness (cancer, NLT) to the bones. Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. 

James 3:16 Wherever you find jealousy and fighting, there will be trouble and every other kind of wrong-doing.

Proverbs 15:30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Psalm 6:2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning (physical pain) all the day long.

Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.

Why do we need healthy bones?  Scientifically, we need to identify what is in the bones. Inside the bones is a complex, living tissue structure designed for strength, flexibility, and blood production. The interior consists primarily of spongy bone and bone marrow alongside blood vessels that run through the bone's canals.

Bone marrow produces white T cells.  T cells are a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. They help your immune system to fight germs and protect you from sickness and disease. There are two main types. Cytotoxic T cells destroy infected cells. Helper T cells send signals that direct other immune cells to fight infection.

What Is Tied to Envy and Jealousy?  Scripture tells us anger is tied to envy and jealousy.

 Proverbs 27:4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous NLT.

Psalm 38:3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins.

Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin NLT.

If you have anger, you most likely will have bitterness.  They are tied together in Ephesians 4:31–32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. This verse includes evil speaking, which is slander and slander includes hatred and lying lips, Proverbs 10:18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool Proverbs.  All these leads to gossip as in 1 Timothy 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. As you can see from scriptures, envy and jealousy includes many other sins that will destroy your health and the health of others.

Habakkuk 3:16 There is no soundness (lack of physical health) in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones (bone marrow) because of my sin. 

NKJV - Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  NIV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

Not only are the envious and jealous at risk from sickness and disease from their sin, but it affects the health of the person who they have targeted like was done with Ruth.

James 5:16 says to: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results, NLT.

We cannot overcome sin that leads to sicknesses and diseases if we refuse to repent by confessing our sins and praying for one another so we can be healed.  This is an everyday requirement by God and it is not an option if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.  Make yourself available and ask for prayer in and out of church.

Job 21:24 His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist (healthy).

What say you?