JEALOUSY is a great but mean sin. No noble heart can be jealous of the honor of others. Self-love is the spring of jealousy, for if we thought less of ourselves, and sought the honor of others, we should not be envious of their reward. There will be no jealousy in heaven, for there all will rejoice in the honor and happiness of each other. We cannot be jealous of those whom we truly love, for the more we love our friends the more delighted we are to see them honored.
A generous-minded child will make a noble man or noble woman; and may all of our young friends belong to this aristocracy! One of the ways in which the sin of jealousy falls upon the head of him who indulges in it, is the little love people have for the jealous person. A man full of self-love is not loved by others; and if any jealous-eyed person reads this let him not grumble at his reward.
As we read the story of good King David we can but think of Saul’s jealousy of him. When David returned from slaying Goliath, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, and answering one another in song, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” “And Saul was very wroth,” the Bible adds.
But why did not tall Saul go out himself and fight Goliath? If he had slain the giant, the women of Israel would have sung his praises as they did David’s. Now, annoyance that others are better than we, instead of admiration of their excellence, is jealousy. After those songs and dances in Israel “Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” Yes, with a wicked look he eyed him; some such look as that which we see at times on children’s faces―yes, and upon those of grown up people also. A mean, selfish look that says, “I wish you were out of the way.”
God was angry with Saul for his jealousy, and the next day He sent an evil spirit upon him, and by and by Saul went from bad to worse in his envy, till at last he tried to get rid of David altogether. He cast his javelin to smite David to the wall with it. David, who trusted in God, escaped. But Saul feared David because God was with him.
Unhappy man! he was getting further and further away from God.
Beware of this great sin, for God will surely judge it someday. He is grieved with His children when they are jealous of one another and vex one another. All good gifts come from Him. We none of us have save what He has given us. No one will grow an inch taller than his stature by envying one who is taller than he. The idle boy will not say his lessons well by envying the industrious lad who takes the pains to learn them. Go and fight the giant; do not envy the giant’s victor.