The spirit of jealousy can cause a lot of damage in your church or ministry if it’s not dealt with properly. The spirit of jealousy will cause striving and ungodly competitions to flourish.
Gossip, backbiting and pettiness will be evident in a ministry where the spirit of jealousy exists. Numbers 5:14 (MEV) talks about an actual demonic spirit called jealousy, it reads, “If the spirit of jealousy comes on him and he is jealous of his wife.” Leadership can actually develop an atmosphere for this spirit to stir when they are promoting favorites and family members, instead of promoting people based on a their merits and abilities.
Second Corinthians 10:12–13 (MEV) says, “They who measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another are not wise. But we will not boast beyond measure, but within the boundaries which God has appointed us, which reach even you.”
God instructs us not to compare ourselves with others, because that really is just another form of covetousness. When we are watching what others have and we are comparing ourselves to them, we are allowing the spirit of jealousy access to our lives.
I was working in a ministry and I had pastored for years so I had gathered a lot of office furniture and wall art over the years. In our home, I just didn’t have anywhere to put those things, so I brought them all to my new office. One of the individuals got really jealous over my office décor and went off on me one day about how “I came in like I owned the place with all my office furniture.” I was trying to work through some other issues with that person and they really exposed their heart with that statement.
Second Corinthians 10:12 tells us that comparing ourselves to others is wrong, and it will cause us to have a jealous spirit if we continue to do that. Faith understands that what God did for one, He will do for another. Romans 2:11 (MEV) says, “For there is no partiality with God.” The King James translation says, “There is no respect of persons with God.”
The word respect simply means to show partiality or favoritism to someone. God loves all His children the same way. I had simply exercised my faith through the years for a nice office and had gathered a few things. We should never despise someone’s harvest because we do not know what they have sown to receive it, and the Bible simply says it is not wise to compare with others.
I remember on one occasion, I was honored to preach in another man’s church. I was just getting started in ministry and had recently pioneered a church. I went into this pastor’s church, and they had so many nice things—big TV screens on the walls, TV equipment and camera’s displaying the speaker on the big screens. I was amazed at all the technological advancements in this church.
The next day, the Lord spoke to my heart early in the day and told me to “rejoice at others’ blessings because He could do the same for me.” When we are faced with someone else’s prosperity, we are at a crossroads to either covet or decide to be encouraged. We must learn to rejoice at another’s blessings because God can do the same thing for us! God doesn’t show favoritism or partiality. Romans 12:15 (MEV) says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”
Come on, church, we know that without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), so there is no reason for us to compare, to covet and to be jealous over anyone’s blessings because what God will do for one, He will do for you. {eoa}
Steve Trexler is a minister and a writer for Father’s House Ministries in Tulsa, OK. Steve pastored for over 18 years and is the author of Gathering God’s Promises, Name Droppers and God’s Personality Test, which can be found at his website, fhctn.com. You may also contact Steve at [email protected].
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