The Working Pastor Journal: The Jealous Heart 4/5/26

A journal by

Pastor Bobby

Before I start, may I remind everyone that there is no perfect person in this world. We are all on a spiritual journey. No matter if you burn a Christian for fifty-two years or two days, no matter if you're a trash man or a pastor. We are all on a journey to get closer to God. As well as God is always teaching us all lessons at all times. And sharing what God is teaching you can help someone else on their journey to sanctification. This is why we at LightHouse Church started these articles. To encourage people on their own spiritual journey, while also showing what God is doing in our own life. I pray that we all will get something out of these words.

4/5/26-

Jealousy is one of those sins that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. I also believe that it is one of the most powerful and worst sins there are. Mainly because just like pride, jealousy is the root cause of most sins. To be honest jealousy is a byproduct of pride. A lot of time we become jealous because of our pride telling us that we deserve that more than someone else.

This is the same tactic that the evil one did on Adam and Eve. God told them that they could eat any fruit they wanted, except for the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because they would surely die. Then one day while Adam and Eve were picking fruit. The evil one came to them as a serpent. He then tried to convince them in to eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They told him if they ate that fruit they would die. The serpent then started to play into their pride and jealousy. Telling them that they surely won't die. However, what will happen is that they will become like God. Adam and Eve fell for this hock, line, and sinker. Their pride started to tell them, "Yes I can be like God," which then turned in to, "why is He god. I want to be like God." So, the jealousy they had then turned into disobedience. Which caused sin to enter into this world. This is why I think jealousy is such a dangerous sin that can cause a web of sins.

I bring this up, because recently I had my own brush with jealousy. I am lucky that God allowed me to see clearly before it turned into a web of sin. But as I said through this God taught me a lot. The strange thing is that in reality it was such a small issue. But in my mind, it was such a war. But since this is a journal entry, let me get into what happened. (Also, each journal entry might look different according to the context. Some I might confess more of the actual details, while others might be broader stokes. This way it is easier to explain and to teach. Also, just to read better these journals will usually not be in first person like most journals. Just so it reads better.) I was at my secular job, when a co-worker was talking about how an EX of mine kept on texting him. In my mind it seemed like he was sort of rubbing it in my face. Now this was most likely just jealousy taking a hold of my heart. That jealousy quickly traveled from my heart to my mind and my tongue. I noticed that I started to treat him differently, and more hostile.

James 3:16, "¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (ESV). This is what started to take a hold of my heart. The strange thing is that the EX he was texting, means nothing to me. We're friends, but that's all. However, sin has away to creep into your heart over the smallest things. If you let it. The jealous heart can cause you to do crazy things that you would not normally do. The good thing is that when I started to treat my co-worker hostel. God quickly hit me with a spiritual four by four. At that point I felt deep in my soul that I was acting sinfully and I needed to correct myself before it got worse. Proverbs 10:17, "[17] Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray." (ESV). I began to slow down and pray. Asking for forgiveness. God then showed me that my focus was on the wrong thing. He showed me to focus on Him and His will. And, once I did that everything else would fall into place. Matthew 6:33,"[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (ESV).

These are all scriptures I know and have preached. But there is a difference between knowing scriptures and living them out. Which is something we all need to work on. So that we don't become disobedient and sinful. The truth is this. I have always delt with a feeling of not being good enough. And the devil will try to use that against me by turning it into jealousy and pride. So, I must be prepared at all times and stay focus on the cross at all times. The other thing we must do to battle jealousy is practice gratitude. Start thanking God for everything He gives you. This will humble you while also allowing you to remember that every gift is from God. While doing this, you will also see that you lack nothing.

We just truly need to remember sometimes sin can appear in our life like lightning. But God gives you his strength to rise above. And I truly do believe this. Now I just need to live it out. Do not let jealousy catch you in a web of sin.