On some level, we all understand or have experienced human jealousy.
In the story of Cain, his jealousy grew until he rose and murdered his brother, Abel (Genesis 4). Joseph’s brothers also exhibited jealousy to the point that they sold him into slavery (Genesis 37). Perhaps the longest running bout of jealousy in the Bible is that of Saul against David in the book of 1 Samuel.
To most of us, jealousy has a negative connotation. But, what about godly jealousy? “How can something seemingly so negative be an attribute of God?” I thought to myself while meditating on 2 Corinthians Ch. 11.
Paul describes himself as “jealous for you with a godly jealousy” in his second letter to the Corinthian church (11:2).
Human jealousy is portrayed as selfish, divisive and bitter. A godly jealousy, on the other hand, as
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Throughout history, fathers have had the privilege of giving their daughters away in marriage, and this is symbolised today by the father walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Every father longs to be able to present his daughter, having raised her in a careful, nurturing home, as a chaste and lovely virgin to the young man she loves.
Paul’s desire was to present the Corinthian church ‘as a pure virgin’ to Christ. His jealous guard over the purity of the bride of Christ was to preserve their minds in the purity and simplicity of devotion to Christ. His godly jealousy sought to keep the Corinthians from going astray. He was afraid that the influence of deceivers would lead the church astray from their sincere and pure devotion to the Jesus he preached. He encouraged them to live for Christ.
God is passionately jealous for the good of His own people. HE is always closely watching over and protecting us to preserve us for His Kingdom. We need to emulate the godly or divine jealousy of God the Father when it comes to our relationships with our
In the first chapter of God Behaving Badly, David Lamb argues that God is unfairly given a bad reputation. He claims these negative perceptions are fueled by pop culture and lead many to believe the lie that the God of the Old Testament is angry, sexist, racist, violent, legalistic, rigid, and distant. These negative perceptions, in turn, affect our faith. Ultimately, Lamb seeks to demonstrate that historical context disproves the presumptuous aforementioned. In addition, he defends his position by citing patterns of descriptions that characterize God throughout the Old Testament. “Our image of God will directly affect how we either pursue or avoid God. If we believe that the God of the Old Testament is really harsh, unfair and cruel, we won’t want anything to do with him” (Lamb 22). Clearly, they way Christians choose to see God will shape their relationship with Him.
Warner's book details the special importance of the Virgin Mary throughout Christianity and explores her religious and secular meaning. She discusses such things as the Church's attitude toward virginity, the role model of the Virgin martyr, the Virgin's relics, and her role as an intercessor with God.
Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on. (III.iii.195-197)
To be jealous is to be overwhelmed and furious at the thought of lacking achievements, advantages, and possessions they desire, specifically (not limited to) of another person. Gary Allan wisely stated, “You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars.” In other words, jealousy can overtake somebody in various ways, no matter how preposterous. It can range from an inane, eye twitching feeling a student may have for receiving a dreadful grade to a more momentous, overbearing, gut-wrenching feeling like a man losing his wife to another man. “The Destructors” by Graham Greene, “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by T.H Lawrence, and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe are all phenomenal short stories that include conflicts, all of which
...ty in the world that even remotely resembles it”. (p91) Going forward what is needed is for the Corinthians is to stop being self-centered and repent. The church is God’s sanctuary. Paul’s portrayal of the church expands upon the role of the “Father Son and Holy Spirit in relation to the church”(p91). Which minimizes the role of its leaders, the leaders are not to be put on a pedestal. Because all the glory goes to God the leaders are mere servants of their flock and servants of God. The growth in God’s field is caused by God not humans as for God’s building the only foundation is that of Jesus Christ, and God’s temple is where the Holy Spirit dwells. According to Romans 8:17 what is Jesus’s is ours 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Abigail and I can both get jealous sometimes. Abigail and I both tend to get jealous about one thing, the ones we love. Abigail gets jealous when it comes to John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. Meanwhile I get jealous when my boyfriend talks about another girl. Not because I don’t trust him, I do but I don’t trust teenage girls,
God shows more of the human characteristic of pride when He meets with Satan again. God is almost gloating in this brief scene. He praises Job further and maintains that Job is loyal:
Throughout the Bible God can be represented in a number of different ways. In some chapters of the Bible God can be found to be a compassionate, loving God, who would do anything for his people. To contradict this, in other chapters of the Bible God can be found trying to instill fear into people so that they believe in him, or do what he wants of them. In both instances it shows how different God can be seen and why believers can have doubts about how God really is.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul set out to address the issues of exclusivity and the divide among the converts of Corinth that has been caused because of spiritual gifts. Paul set a guideline to his converts in Corinth to create order and conduct during times of worship in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33. Doing so, Paul hoped that the divide that has been caused from those with special or “exclusive” spiritual gifts do not cause other believers to become jealous or envious. Paul’s guideline to the Corinthians showed the leadership that Paul had that allowed him to guide the Church to become Hellenistic in just one generation.
In his sonnet, Shakespeare laments that even when we know that lust is dangerously irrational, most people cannot resist falling under its spell. Othello finds the same to be true about jealousy.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Behavioral jealousy are actions that occur between an individual who is experiencing envious thoughts and how they internalize and react to the stimuli. Pfeiffer and Wong (1989) “conceptualize jealous behaviors as the detective/protective measures a person takes when relationship rivals (real or imaginary) are perceived. Detective actions include questioning, checking up on the partner, and searching the partner’s belongings” (p.183). Research suggests that behavioral jealousy is used to maintain relationships. Relationship maintenance refers to either positive or negative behaviors that occur between two individuals in order to maintain a healthy communicative balance.
What is jealousy? Is it part of any normal relationship, or is it always destructive? The origins of jealousy are not clear. Some believe that jealousy was our solution to mate retention due to our "concealed fertilization" process (Basset 72). While others believe that it is how we compare what we have to what other have and is triggered by "perceived threats to relationships" and is designed to "trigger initial emotional reactions" (Basset 73). What is clear is that jealousy has been a part of the human race for as long as our species has developed social structures. Smith indicates that t here are several types of jealousy ranging from mild to severe when verbal and physical threats come in. When jealousy reaches this stage of intensity, he advises that "you need to get the hell out of there" (qtd. in Jet 2002). This extreme form of jealousy has obviously gone too far, but are there forms of jealousy that are natural or even helpful?
Envy is also brought into the book through the story of Cain and Abel. It is introduced as something we are born with and tempted with all our lives. Finding we can't get what we think we want, we act to take something away from the other person. Everyone has been envious at least one time in his or her life. Sometimes a person can be so envious of another that they end up hurting the other person. An example of this would be if you were jealous of another person's beautiful hair, and you snuck into their room at night and cut it all of.
“... habits… to envy… offence… to an outburst of hatred and passionate resentment” (Polybius, Histories, 6.7).
Common misconceptions about God run rampant. Some believe He sins just as humans do. Others believe he craves the destruction of mankind. However, in reality, a righteous God exists, a Lord who tests His subjects' faith, a Ruler who controls all. People often contest that God holds no power over the earth. However, God's sovereignty remains evident in that countries fall when He decides to disestablish them. The fact that He disciplines the profane and prospers the deserving displays His uprightness. Though afflictions will come, people must persevere and continue to look towards God. Even though life appears hopeless at times, God remains all-powerful. His love for His followers remains everlasting. His control over the earth endures forever.