How do you controlJealousy/ coveting when you are a christian?

Question

I look at my brothers Life , and I look at my brothers . I convert in my mind all the time wishing I had his life instead of my mine . How do I stop these thoughts ?

Answer 1

--IT INDEED CAN BE DIFFICULT, but with the help of the fruitages of the holy spirit or active force of God, these qualities can be obtained to a reasonable degree in prayer & effort:

(Galatians 5:22-23) “22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

--Jesus recommended the need for more of God's "active force" in our lives and the need to request God for his help in developing the above fruitages & being very specific in our asking:

(Luke 11:10-13) “. 9 Accordingly I say to YOU, Keep on asking, and it will be given YOU; keep on seeking, and YOU will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to YOU. 10 For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened. .. 11 Indeed, which father is there among YOU who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? 13 Therefore, if YOU, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to YOUR children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!””

Answer 2

You check out what love means at 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 and cultivate the fruits of God's spirit at Galatians 5: 21, 22. I know no other way! And always pray about it in the name of Jesus His son... amen
You can also remember that it is a commandment to love yourself as Jesus said: "Love your neighbor as Yourself!" which is the second greatest commandment and if you love God and your brothers, you must love yourself just as much and then, you'll begin to love your own life... and not wish you were living someone else's life! You might also like to remember that the grass always looks greener on the other side but this is far from being "paradise" on earth for anyone right now, not even your brothers! You are truly doing yourself a disservice by entertaining these ideas... and rob yourself from achieving your own successes and then it might be your brothers wishing they were in your shoes... God forbid!

Answer 3

1) I would suggest thinking of yourself in relative terms. There are always going to be people richer and far greater or popular than yourself but also countless others who are far less than yourself. Try and be happy with what you have and build your life gradually.

2) Be careful what you wish and pray for since you may get it. As a young kid in the 60's I remember that so many young girls wished they could be Annette Founicello, that pretty mouseketeer who later was the star attraction in those famous beach and stock car movies. Sadly, early in her mid life she is confined to a wheel chair with MS. Few would want to trade now.

3) Things aren't always as they seem and many who have a great abundance of the biggest and best of things often have all sorts of pressures and stress due to being highly leveraged or in an unstable economic job that could crash at any time. They are smart enough to keep those worries within the walls of their homes though outwardly putting on a good show.

4) When you get your first potentially lethal ailment from cancer to a heart attack or survviving a deadly accident, quite often the things we worried about before and envied become so much less important.

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 4

To answer your question of how to stop these thoughts...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

When you pray, as well as study God's word daily, God will make the necessary changes from inside you, while you on the other hand need to make an honest effort, a conscience effort to stop thinking the way you do. Especially since you already know that it goes against God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

When you are doing exactly what God told us not to when you covet, that does not bring Glory to God.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Work hard towards a goal and ask God for His guidance and leadership while you study His word every day, and He will open all kinds of doors for you with His blessings. But...

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

When we make excuses for the sins we commit, we are giving glory and satisfying satan, and not God. I hope that these scriptures were helpful to you. They are God's words, I just share them with others. God bless you!

Answer 5

The bible says take every thought captive to Christ. Whenever you notice you are having thoughts like this, immediately ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to take away the jealousy and replace it with gladness that your brother is blessed. If you have to do it ten times a day, do it. You will be rewarded with a changed heart, because God never tells us to do something if He isn't going to follow through! Jesus is the only one that can transform us from within. If you truly desire Him to change you in this regard, keep surrendering these thoughts and feelings, keep praying for transformation, He will do it.

Answer 6

Try having compersion. Compersion is the opposite of jealousy. What it means is that you love someone so much you will not only allow them to have whatever their passion is, but you will also celebrate their passion with them. Look up the word on Google. You may be very surprised at what you find.

El Bee, OF
Priest of Yarrow Coven

Answer 7

Christ advises his disciples that they should not try to amass earthly treasure but should rather try to store up treasure in heaven. This is because earthly treasure can be stolen or lost, while the heavenly treasure will be yours for all of eternity. What is heavenly treasure? Acts of love towards God and your neighbours. If you look at things this way I think you will be more peaceful.

Answer 8

David in the Old Testament was chastised by God for making comparisons.. God has a plan for your life focas on Him and not your brother and rejoice in the path that God will give you !!! Somebody will always have it better than you, but did you know that they envy you because your life is not complicated like theirs is !!!

http://www.carm.org/doctrine/100truths.htm

Answer 9

i dont need to control it coz i dont feel it. jealousy comes from lacking good and satisfaction in your own life. i dont feel that because i know God and that He has great things lined up for me.

The way to get rid of your jealousy is to get a revalation on God's love for you, when you know His love, which passes all knowledge, you will know the truth of His love, that it means He wants you to have an abundant life, to the full, until it overflows, that He wants you to prosper in ever area of your life, spiritually, relationally etc etc. When you get a revalation of Gods love you will understand that when He said in Jeremiah, I know the plans that i have for You, plans of a future and a hope, not evil but good all the days of your life.... that He meant it.

we can live our entire Christian lives knowing ABOUT God's love coz we hear about it and read about it "oh Jesus loves you"... but there is a difference between that and actually KNOWING, experiencing it for yourself. Experientially knowing Gods love will set you free from jealousy, how can you be jealous of another person when you know how much your creator loves you personally? and how much He has in store for you that can be obtained through faith and prayer?

also, if you obey the commandment to love your neighbour, you cant be jealous of them, but happy for them.

Pray a blessing over your brother, repent of being jealous, and just move on. God cares about your entire life so much, if you are unsatisfied with any part of your life, you have nobody to blame but yourself. God is your source and He has everything you want and need just waiting for you. its called the authority of the believer.

if you want a bunch of scriptures, by all means, email me [e-mail]

God Bless you!

Answer 10

Understand it is a choice to feel jealous and a choice to covet. Choose to control it.