Once, the disciples of Jesus complained to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Instead of being surprised by what his disciples told him, he surprised the disciples by telling them, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us”. It is clear that Jesus was neither insecure nor did he help the needy in order to glorify himself or to create an army of followers. As long as good was being done to others in his name, he had no problem.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that many of us are like Jesus’ disciples and cannot digest other people’s success. So much jealousy surrounds us. Much more good could be achieved if we thought of the good that is accomplished by others’ dedication rather than being jealous of them.
Psychologists, by differentiating between “jealous feelings” and “jealous behaviours”, give us hope that all is not lost. Our jealousy need not end up in jealous actions, much like the fact that our feeling of anger need not be converted into angry actions.
The Bible instructs its readers, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves… But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice”.
Jealous people end up doing just the opposite of what God wishes from us. Rejoicing when others weep and weeping when others rejoice or using another’s misfortune to get ahead is immoral. In fact, the Greek word for “envy” means “to boil within”. The jealous do not realise that by being so they do no harm to the person they are jealous of. They only harm themselves.
The Bible, therefore, offers a wonderful solution by suggesting that jealousy, and for that matter all our vices, can be overcome by love. It says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins”. Therefore, St. Augustine preached, “Love and do what you will”.
Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religion, can be contacted at frdominic@gmail.com
