A Peaceful Heart vs Envy, Jealousy

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30 NIV)

After selling Joseph as a slave to an Ishmaelite caravan heading to Egypt, his brothers killed a young goat and dipped his robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.

Joseph’s brothers took action that caused much pain and suffering. Could some of this been because of their jealousy of Joseph? When we make everything about us, we are sure to miss God’s mark. In reality, everything should be about Him.

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.