LOVING LIKE GOD Pt.3

There were two apple trees in the same garden under the supervision of a gardener. The first apple tree got rain first and started bearing big, sweet apples.  The second apple tree had no fruit yet.  The second apple tree became bitter about the first apple tree because it fruited first and got the attention of people.

Due to jealousy and complaint, the second apple tree stopped growing. It spent all its energy complaining, and its roots became weak. Later, it died because at the time rain fell, its roots had weakened and it had lost all its energy for growth. The second tree had the potential for growth and fruitfulness but it missed its own season of watering by rain.

This is what happens to jealous and envious people. They always spend all their energy asking "God, why them and not me?"  They sorrow over someone else's joy in private but show happiness in public. All the energy they should have spent celebrating those who made it and asking God to remember them, they exhaust it on bitterness. Little wonder why jealous people always miss their season like the second apple tree.

*When jealousy clothes its victims, they often think the blessing of their neighbours is taken from theirs. What they fail to realize is that when God blesses their neighbour, it shows that God is in their neighbourhood*.

James 3:14,16 says, *"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition... For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice*".

When your friends gets married, be happy genuinely and wish them well. Don't wish their marriage to scatter.  When your friends gets a good job, thank God genuinely for them. Clap for them. Water them with prayer. Your season is coming too. Do not be like the second apple tree.

Do you know some criticism stems from jealousy? I know this because what I see among some ministers who criticize everything about other ministers and ministries points to chronic jealousy. No matter how they defend it with scriptures, the heart quoting those scriptures is filled with envy and bitterness. That is why I try my best to discern the heart of preacher than the 'truth' in his mouth. Why? Truth can be weaponized to hurt instead of healing with it.

We all get attacked by jealousy in one way or the other but there are three ways we overcome it and walk in love.

First, learn to celebrate people openly and in secret. Do this by sending congratulatory messages, attend their events or even send a gift. If your friend buys a car, give him/ her money for fuel as a token of appreciation for what the Lord has done. Don't bellittle the achievement of others with your mouth.

The second thing to do is to pray for them. Prayer kills jealousy because both of them cannot coexist at the same time. Same applies to forgiveness. If you pray for those that offend you, unforgiveness will disappear because both cannot coexist. That's a secret, try it if you've been battling unforgiveness.

The third thing to do to kill jealousy in you is to be grateful for all the Lord has done for you. In as much as you may not have gotten that which you desire, thank the Lord for other things He has done for you. Thanksgiving opens the door for a flow of blessings and makes you prepared for your season.

Do not be like the second apple tree that missed its season because of jealousy. Jealousy shrinks your joy, love multiplies it.