嫉妒的心
雅各書三章13至18節
13你們中間誰是有智慧有見識的呢？他就當在智慧的溫柔上顯出他的善行來。
14你們心裡若懷著苦毒的嫉妒和分爭，就不可自誇，也不可說謊話抵擋真道。
15這樣的智慧不是從上頭來的，乃是屬地的，屬情慾的，屬鬼魔的。
16在何處有嫉妒、分爭，就在何處有擾亂和各樣的壞事。
17惟獨從上頭來的智慧，先是清潔，後是和平，溫良柔順，滿有憐憫，多結善果，沒有偏見，沒有假冒。
18並且使人和平的，是用和平所栽種的義果。
信息分享
嫉妒是一種非常可怕的情緒，當我們的內心出現嫉妒的時候，無論對己對人都會造成傷害。相信我們每個人都嚐過妒忌人或被人嫉妒的滋味，那種感覺絕不好受。然而，聖經卻教導信徒，不可心存嫉妒，反要時刻充滿愛心。
嫉妒的心會驅使人做出可怕的行為，最嚴重的，甚至會釀成謀殺。即使在基督徒的群體之中，也會因為嫉妒而出現冷言冷語的攻擊，甚或是誣蔑中傷。舊約的約瑟，便因為兄長的妒忌而被賣為奴隸。但以理亦因為貴胄的嫉妒，而被推下獅子坑中。甚至是我們的基督，祂之所以受到審訊和定罪，其中一個原因也是因為宗教領袖對祂的妒忌。
然而，基督徒卻有能力去驅除妒忌的心。究竟是何妙法？方法只有一個，就是信靠基督。假設你想參與教會某個事奉崗位，可是，教會卻請了另一位信徒出任，此刻，你便隱隱泛起嫉妒之心。但就在這一刻，你必須來到基督的面前，向祂禱告說：「主啊，我的生命在你的手中，你知道我的心思和意念。如果你想我在那個崗位去事奉你，你一定會給我機會；可是你沒有，一定是有你的原因。我相信你的心意一定是為我好的。」或許神已另有安排，要你去做其他工作，只是你暫時不知道吧了！這時，就是我們學習信靠神的時間，而不要一味嫉妒別人。
雅各再一次談到智慧，智慧在這卷書信中究竟有何意思？智慧就是一種辨明事理的能力──知道在一切事情的背後，都有神的計劃在掌管。這種智慧必然帶來一顆安靜和信靠的心。哪裡有嫉妒，哪裡就有擾亂和苦毒。哪裡有智慧和信靠，哪裡就有平安與和睦。我們究竟嚮往甚麼呢？
反思：
一個內心充滿嫉妒的人，其實對自己的傷害最大。
WHEN JEALOUSLY COMES IN
James 3: 13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Message
One of the most terrible emotions in the human heart is jealousy. We all know what it is to be jealous of someone or for someone to be jealous of us. But jealousy should have no place in a Christian's heart. Love is the emotion that should always be first for us.
Jealous people have done some terrible things to other people. Some have been murdered because of jealousy. Cruel and untrue statements have been made about fellow Christians simply because of jealousy. Joseph was sold into slavery through the jealous princes. Jealousy played a large part in the trial and condemnation of Christ.
But in the life of a Christian, jealousy can be controlled. How? By our trust in Christ. Suppose someone else has been given the position in the church that you wanted. Jealousy could easily arise in your heart. But right then is the time to say 'Lord my life is in your hands. You could have given that position to me, but you didn't. I accept that as from you.' Who knows - God may give you a far better position when you learn to trust him and not be jealous of someone else.
Once again James speaks about wisdom. What does that mean here in his epistle? It is being able to see God's hand behind everything that comes into our lives. The result of that, of course, is peace. Where there is jealousy, there can only be unrest and bitterness. Where there is trust, there is peace. Which do you want today?
A THOUGHT:
A jealous person actually hurts themselves the most.