Last week I spent my last 3 postings talking about the jealousy that drove Joseph's brothers in Genesis 37 to ultimately throw him into a pit of betrayal. Jealousy just might be one of the most "under-admitted" sins that causes damage among Christ-followers and damage in the church. No wonder in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul emphatically states in verse 4,
"LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
Now let me remind you of something. Even though the only place you typically ever hear 1 Corinthians 13 read is at a wedding, contextually it is not written about marriage. 1 Corinthians 13 is about life in the church. Do the principles apply to marriage? Certainly! But the real context is the church. Paul is saying that when it comes to Christ-followers showing love to each other in the church, remember this:
"LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
But we often tend to let that one slide, don't we? It is amazing how much jealousy there is among Christians and in ministry, for example:
One ministry gets mentioned by the pastor from the pulpit or promoted in some unique way and those who are part of or leading other ministries become JEALOUS!
One ministry gets a bigger increase in the church budget than another ministry and ministry leaders of other areas become JEALOUS!
One church is blessed by God with numerical growth and pastors and church-goers from other congregations become JEALOUS!
One member in the church gets a raise or promotion and other church members become JEALOUS!
God blesses one businessman in the church with a great financial year and other businessmen in the church becomes JEALOUS!
And the examples go on and on and on. This is isn't Biblical love. Biblical love is never JEALOUS! Biblical love wants to see God do great things in you and through you even if it appears as if these same kind of great aren't being done in and through me. Biblical love wants to see your ministry flourish, get promoted and get financed, even if the same things aren't happening to my ministry. Biblical love wants to see God grow your church even if He doesn't seem to be growing my church. Biblical love wants to see God supernaturally bless your life, your marriage, your family, your kids, your finances and your business, even if those same blessings aren't happening in my life, my marriage, my family, my finances and my business.
True Biblical love applauds your blessings and successes. True Biblical love stands on the side-line and cheers you on as you take your victory lap.
"TRUE BIBLICAL LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
"LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
Now let me remind you of something. Even though the only place you typically ever hear 1 Corinthians 13 read is at a wedding, contextually it is not written about marriage. 1 Corinthians 13 is about life in the church. Do the principles apply to marriage? Certainly! But the real context is the church. Paul is saying that when it comes to Christ-followers showing love to each other in the church, remember this:
"LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
But we often tend to let that one slide, don't we? It is amazing how much jealousy there is among Christians and in ministry, for example:
One ministry gets mentioned by the pastor from the pulpit or promoted in some unique way and those who are part of or leading other ministries become JEALOUS!
One ministry gets a bigger increase in the church budget than another ministry and ministry leaders of other areas become JEALOUS!
One church is blessed by God with numerical growth and pastors and church-goers from other congregations become JEALOUS!
One member in the church gets a raise or promotion and other church members become JEALOUS!
God blesses one businessman in the church with a great financial year and other businessmen in the church becomes JEALOUS!
And the examples go on and on and on. This is isn't Biblical love. Biblical love is never JEALOUS! Biblical love wants to see God do great things in you and through you even if it appears as if these same kind of great aren't being done in and through me. Biblical love wants to see your ministry flourish, get promoted and get financed, even if the same things aren't happening to my ministry. Biblical love wants to see God grow your church even if He doesn't seem to be growing my church. Biblical love wants to see God supernaturally bless your life, your marriage, your family, your kids, your finances and your business, even if those same blessings aren't happening in my life, my marriage, my family, my finances and my business.
True Biblical love applauds your blessings and successes. True Biblical love stands on the side-line and cheers you on as you take your victory lap.
"TRUE BIBLICAL LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS!"
Be sure to read my other blog entitled "Hope for Hurting Pastors" at www.hurtingpastor.blogspot.com or email me directly at skdistler@gmail.com
Loved this series!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim! You guys have a great week!
ReplyDelete