Dealing with the green eyed monster

When we were children growing up in our homes, our mothers and fathers taught us about jealousy and envy - you know the old green eyed monster that is lurking in all of us. While it may impossible not to have these kind of feelingsJames 4:5 - Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?  KJV (we are all in the flesh), it is possible to be able to control them. Self control must be practiced when it comes to jealously and envy; what the Bible commonly refers to covetousness. If we don't try to control these petty feelings that are born out of a pride filled heart; they can get to a point to where there is no way we can control them. Jealously and envy are pride's ugly, ugly twin sons and they have caused people to do some pretty bad things through the course of history.

envy and jealousyWe all know that envy and jealously are a bad character trait, but what most folks don't know is that these two things are considered by God to be idol worship. Idol worship is dealt with over and over again in the Old Testament of the Bible, but not referred to very many times in the New Testament. The ten commandments in Exodus 20:3Exo 20:3 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  KJV  first command was; for the people to have no other gods before the one true God, Jehovah. Idol worship's simplest definition is to put other things (gods) before Jehovah God.
Covetousness and coveting others things, envying others for what they have or what they are, being jealous of others successes and strengths, are things that may be considered idol worship in the New Testament. The Bible shows us in Colossians 3:5Col 3:5 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  KJV that covetousness is idolatry. We must control the green eyed monster lurking in all of us, or else it can get to the point where it controls us !

There is only one thing the Bible says that we can covet and that can be found in 1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.  KJV, if anyone must be envious or jealous; let them be so over the good gifts and talents that God so readily bestows on them who serve him.