Conscience, 24

 ~ Jealousy Degrades Your Conscience ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In posts 1—20 of this series, we looked at various descriptions of conscience.  Beginning in post 21 we look at emotional factors that have a very negative impact on our consciences. 

 

Scripture ~ “So the big question is, Why didn't Israel understand that she had no corner on this message?  Moses had it right when he predicted, ‘When you see God reach out to those you consider your inferiors — outsiders! — you’ll become insanely jealous.  When you see God reach out to people you think are religiously stupid, you’ll throw temper tantrums” (Romans 10:19, msg).

 

Comment ~ The passage above is interesting since it shows a form of spiritual pride.  As I explain on my book on pride (see below), I believe spiritual pride must be the most awful form of pride in God’s eyes.  However, there are also good forms of pride. 

 

Likewise, there is such a thing of good jealousy – our God is a jealous God, (Exodus 34:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2, and others) but good jealousy is uncommon.  At the foundation of most jealousy is pride: you feel you deserve what someone else has more than they deserve it. 

 

Solution ~ Gratitude.  Count your blessings.  List all the things you can be thankful for. There is an old hymn that contains the line: Count your many blessings, count them one by one, and see what God has done!

 

Question ~ Are you jealous?  Do you practice thankfulness including for the “small things” in your life. 

 

Note ~My eBook “PRIDE: Good and Bad” (https://books2read.com/Pride-Good-and-Bad) is a good read related to this area.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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