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GODLY JEALOUSY (I)
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
2 Corinthians 11:1-2
Exodus 34:14
 
“For I am jealous over
you with godly jealousy.”
 
GODLY JEALOUSY (I)
 
Jealousy often carries a negative connotation in modern English. It is often regarded as synonymous with envy, which refers to a feeling of discontentment and resentful longing aroused by another’s possessions or qualities.
 
Jealousy, however, is originally used to describe the fierce protection of what one perceives to be his. The Bible describes God as a jealous God. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exod 34:14). All the false gods of this world can never be compared to the one living and true God. Therefore, when man worships other gods, the LORD is rightfully jealous for they have exalted the creature over the Creator, and robbed Him of His glory.
 
The difference between divine jealousy and human jealousy is that human jealousy is often stained with sin. Such human jealousy was the cause of the sectarian spirit in the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Cor 3:4), and was also the cause of many an attack on the Apostle Paul. Sinful jealousy is often rooted in pride and covetousness, in which the creature desires something which does not belong to him. On the other hand, the jealousy of God is pure and free from sin, for it is rooted in His nature and character.
 
God’s rightful and just jealousy behoves us to denounce all idolatry (Exod 20:4-5). His jealousy demands our exclusive worship. No man can serve two masters. It must be God, and no one else. As God’s covenant people, we are also expected to be jealous over His honour and the faithfulness of His people. When we do anything for our own glory rather than God’s, we are forgetting how jealous God is over His name and glory. This was what the false accusers of Paul had forgotten. Consumed by their pride, their thoughts were only for self and not for the flock of God. They were not concerned for the spiritual welfare of God’s people. Paul, on the other hand, was rightly jealous over God’s church.
 
THOUGHT: What is the difference between sinful and godly jealousy?
PRAYER: Father, may I always be mindful that Thou art a jealous God.

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