THE WONDER OF OVERCOMING JEALOUSY WITH RESPECT NOT REVENGE
An old Indian fable tells of an eagle that could not fly as high as another eagle, and was so jealous that it flew down to earth, lit next to a sportsman with a bow and arrow, and said to the shooter, “I want you to bring down that eagle that soars up yonder higher than I.”
The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some eagle feathers to attach to his arrow. So, the jealous eagle pulled a feather out of his wing, gave it to the sportsman who shot the arrow toward the soaring eagle, but didn’t quite reach him; it was flying too high.
Whereupon, the jealous eagle pulled out more feathers, kept it up until he lost so many of his own feathers that he himself could no longer fly. Moral of the fable: If you’re jealous, the only person you hurt is yourself.
Jealousy starts at an early age and can last a lifetime if not reckoned with. It wrecks love between two otherwise inseparable people. It brings nations to war and powerful people to ruin due to hostile feelings of resentment, bitterness, grudge bearing, envy, covetousness.
The green-eyed monster of jealousy rears its ugly head when it is perceived by a spouse that someone else likes his or her spouse more than they ought to . . . a rival gets the job, or the position, or the custody rights someone else wanted . . . one’s neighbor lives in a better house, drives a nicer car, has more money to burn . . . someone gets preferential treatment due to the color of skin, or age or gender . . . a candidate someone doesn’t like or didn’t vote for is elected.
One of the most telling dynamics of the negative effects jealousy can have on the sanity and civility of otherwise intelligent people is pointed out by Luke in his description of how the Jewish hierarchy reacted to the popularity of Paul and Barnabas as they preached the gospel: (Acts 13)
“When they saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, began whipping up antagonistic opposition against Paul and Barnabas, seeking to contradict good things that were happening, and abusively accused them of blasphemy.”
Folks, whenever people become obsessed with jealousy, they misperceive or misrepresent truth. The Jewish hierarchy in the first century carefully guarded their own misconceived rights, privileges and elitist status. Their suspicion of the Gentiles, and their hatred of them, blinded them to their sin of jealousy.
Be careful to avoid the trap of jealously that could cause you to lose your perspective on truth and allow you to be led down a path of destruction . . . There is a place, of course, for opinions to the contrary and views that vary from person to person . . . but there are absolutes which honest and fair-minded Christians must adhere to . . . Respect is one of those absolutes.
In the Christian realm in which we say we belong to the kingdom of God, and are therefore said to be “in the world but not of the world” - there is always going to be that constant challenge, facing Christians, of how we are to respond to governmental authority, at all levels . . . and I suppose, in answer to the question of “how”, we could simply say and be done with it, “very wisely”.
However, it’s not that easy, is it? Pride and jealously must be dealt with! So, we need to see how this issue was dealt with in the Bible. And for that, look no further than how it was handled by Jonathan’s friend David . . .
What we find out about “How David dealt with King Saul’s jealousy” is a method, a solution, that you and I should have no problem implementing in our own dealings with government authorities; we do as David did: Experience the wonder of overcoming jealousy with respect, not revenge.
First, please recall King Saul’s previous bad treatment of David (PSG page 43): In a jealous rage Saul tried to pin David to a wall with a spear . . . tried to have David killed by the Philistines . . . ordered his son and his servants to kill David . . . told Jonathan he wanted David dead . . . killed priests because of their allegiance to David. Therefore, we must conclude:
If anyone had a reason to hate the head of a government - in this case a king - and get even with him, wouldn’t that person be David? Yet, we see the wonder of how this man of God handled personal conflict with authority – I Samuel 24:3-7 . . .
Whatever it was that brought about this chance for David to get even with his bitter enemy, and even get rid of him, David’s respect for “the Lord’s anointed” would not allow him to go any further than cutting off the hem of Saul’s garment.
This “cutting off” incident may seem trivial to us, but think about it in this way: if someone were to slip through security and get behind the president of the United States, and do something disrespectful, none of us would (should) consider it trivial. There would, and should, be consequences.
David realized his error of judgment (listening to those who egged him on due to their misperception that this occurrence was of the LORD, or that God would okay it).
Have you noticed that the LORD gets blamed for a lot that He had nothing to do with? Be careful about what you attribute to God! The very definition of blasphemy is: attributing to God that which is in fact the work of the Devil.
Yes, it is human nature to lash out at those who seek to harm us. Revenge, in the sick minds of some, represents a form of justice which people too freely take into their own hands, when God clearly says, “Vengeance is mine, saithe the LORD!”
Simple rule to follow: Don’t put into God’s mouth what He did not say, and don’t claim God did what He did not do.
David spoke with grace, yet with conviction, when he confronted the head of his government – I Samuel 24:8-11 . . . If you’re a person who likes to have a list to go by when it comes to how to live your Christian Faith, you will find in this passage Six ways by which David showed respect to Saul (PSG page 45):
David spoke words of respect . . . bowed in a gesture of respect . . . made a simple request that the king not listen to advisors who wrongly accuse . . . offered evidence of his respect . . . referred to Saul affectionately as my father – a term of endearment . . . left no doubt that his personal relationship with God his Heavenly Father gave him the strength and the resolve to deal wisely with civil authority.
Folks, speaking with grace and heartfelt conviction to and about persons in authority is of utmost importance for a child of God who wishes to reflect the love of God and convey the principles of righteousness taught by Jesus.
Along that line, don’t you think we as individuals would do well to pray for a good measure of tact – if we wish to rise above profane words and actions that convey disrespect?
Don’t you think we as a nation would do well to rise above the profane, and quickly, before we slip any further into the gutter of disrespectful behavior?
Hopefully we who love the LORD, and our country, will conclude as did David that it is best to trust God (recommit to our national motto “In God We Trust”) - and thereby refuse to take revenge into our own hands – I Samuel 24:12 . . .
When we have an issue with someone in authority, and have done the best of which we are capable to address the issue, to leave the matter in God’s hands will not be easy, but we would be wise to follow David’s example and do just that.
For you see, there comes a time when the only option we have left is our best option: Leave the matter where it belongs - in the hands of Almighty God.
However, do not be surprised if otherwise respectable people join in misguided efforts to seek revenge, as was the case in the Old Testament, but also in New Testament times, when similar events took place and good people got swept up in a wave of retribution: “The hierarchy aroused the devout of the city and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, driving them out of their district.” (Acts 13). In times like these, what can we do? “If my people called by my name will humbles themselves and pray . . .”
Ask the Lord to help us avoid quarreling incessantly . . . act wisely toward those with whom we disagree . . . speak the truth in love . . . respect duly elected and appointed authorities. On behalf of our nation, let us pray: “Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; re-clothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives they service find, in deeper reverence, praise.” Amen.
