GODLY JEALOUSY

 ‘Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?’ James 4:5

            From the above read verse, we see James quoting that God the Spirit yearns jealously. So from this, many questions arise - can God be jealous? Isn’t jealousy a sin as Ap.Paul writes to Galatians? If so what is this Godly jealousy? 

           Jealousy in basic terms, is being envious on someone because of their wealth and possessions, or status, or talents, or even appearances. It originates in the heart of one, who feels insecure and lack something in life which others have. And when it comes to Godly jealousy, God isn’t jealous because of man’s belongings or possessions, in fact He is our provider; but God is jealous when we fail to give Him what rightly belongs to Him. In the commandments that God gave through Moses(Exodus 20), He says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,...” Worship rightly belongs to God! And only He is worthy of all praises, glory and honor. Every knee shall bow down only in the name of Jesus Christ. And when we encourage anything else that hinders our relationship with God, or when we prioritize other things than God, then we sin according to His Word and our God is jealous.

            And also as born again Christians, when we have made a commitment to God, and when we have made this covenant with Christ through baptism, God rightly expects us to remain faithful to our vows. We ought not to appreciate any worldly desires in our life for the Bible says that friendship with the world is enmity with God. Our thoughts and actions should glorify only the name of Jesus Christ. Let us be very vigilant in what we prioritize in our lives. Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”