嫉妒的心
雅各书三章13至18节
13你们中间谁是有智慧有见识的呢？他就当在智慧的温柔上显出他的善行来。
14你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和分争，就不可自夸，也不可说谎话抵挡真道。
15这样的智慧不是从上头来的，乃是属地的，属情欲的，属鬼魔的。
16在何处有嫉妒、分争，就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。
17惟独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平，温良柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。
18并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果。
信息分享
嫉妒是一种非常可怕的情绪，当我们的内心出现嫉妒的时候，无论对己对人都会造成伤害。相信我们每个人都尝过妒忌人或被人嫉妒的滋味，那种感觉绝不好受。然而，圣经却教导信徒，不可心存嫉妒，反要时刻充满爱心。
嫉妒的心会驱使人做出可怕的行为，最严重的，甚至会酿成谋杀。即使在基督徒的群体之中，也会因为嫉妒而出现冷言冷语的攻击，甚或是诬蔑中伤。旧约的约瑟，便因为兄长的妒忌而被卖为奴隶。但以理亦因为贵胄的嫉妒，而被推下狮子坑中。甚至是我们的基督，祂之所以受到审讯和定罪，其中一个原因也是因为宗教领袖对祂的妒忌。
然而，基督徒却有能力去驱除妒忌的心。究竟是何妙法？方法只有一个，就是信靠基督。假设你想参与教会某个事奉岗位，可是，教会却请了另一位信徒出任，此刻，你便隐隐泛起嫉妒之心。但就在这一刻，你必须来到基督的面前，向祂祷告说：「主啊，我的生命在你的手中，你知道我的心思和意念。如果你想我在那个岗位去事奉你，你一定会给我机会；可是你没有，一定是有你的原因。我相信你的心意一定是为我好的。」或许神已另有安排，要你去做其他工作，只是你暂时不知道吧了！这时，就是我们学习信靠神的时间，而不要一味嫉妒别人。
雅各再一次谈到智慧，智慧在这卷书信中究竟有何意思？智慧就是一种辨明事理的能力──知道在一切事情的背后，都有神的计划在掌管。这种智慧必然带来一颗安静和信靠的心。哪里有嫉妒，哪里就有扰乱和苦毒。哪里有智慧和信靠，哪里就有平安与和睦。我们究竟向往甚么呢？
反思：
一个内心充满嫉妒的人，其实对自己的伤害最大。
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.