How to overcome the spirit of envy and jealousy

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”-Gal 5:19-21

From the above quotation,one can see the consequence of harboring envy and jealousy.Therefore,what can be done to overcome such spirit?

1)Sit down in a quiet place,get a sheet of paper and a pen,write down the names of those people you envy and are jealous of.Write the reasons for the envy and jealousy in front of their names! It sounds childish but it can help you decongest your mind and be at peace within:

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”-Prov 14:30

“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones”(NLT).

 2)Start to pray for them that they should succeed more in those good things you envy in them.Then start to appreciate God for what he has done for you.

3)If it is possible try to move closer to those you envy to know  the right things they are doing that you are not doing.Ask them questions.

4)Appreciate those you envy instead of getting angry when people talk about them.Don’t start to criticise them just because in your heart you envy them.
If they buy a new car, and you envy that,go and congratulate them.
If they have better voice than you in the choir and you are jealous that they might take your place,don’t pull them down,rather appreciate them.

5)You cannot draw virtues from what you don’t value therefore honor those who are ahead of you.
If you envy your boss,or your Pastors etc the worst thing to do is to start looking for their downfall.You can’t get blessed through them if you follow that path.
The proverbial tortoise said if he had known he would one day become the king of the forest,he would have been  asking the other animals to give big meat to the lion(the former king).But before the tortoise was made the king,he used to castigate the lion and encourage other animals to disrespect the lion.Beyond his widest imagination,Mr tortoise is now the king! Little did he know that it was the office of the king he was disrespecting before and not the lion!Who will honor Mr Tortoise now?

“For anger kills a fool, and jealousy slays the gullible”-Job 5:2

“Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple”(NIV)

6)Stop comparing yourself with other people.Everybody has his/her own time.The tendency is there for you to start thinking: “This man was my mate in school,look at what he has achieved but I am just here doing nothing”.
Rather than to become depressed by this,keep praying for your own time to come.
Stop comparing yourself with others.You only have one competitor in the real sense.Do you want to know the person?
It is the person God wants you to become!That is your competitor.

 “Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else”-Gal 6:4

7)Confess to God how you feel about those you envy and be willing to put such vice away from your heart.

“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander”-1Peter 2:1

Shalom.