Jealousy and Envy, Can Be Hazardous To Our Health

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary describes the word jealous as, " intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness, disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness, hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage." Some have even described this state of negativity as, "rotten to the bones." It is truly the type of thing we want to avoid because when we express it, we become inferior. Think about how the person who spends his or her time plotting on innocent individuals to cause them harm becomes inferior due to their negative activity.

#Racism, is definitely a force of negativity that is "rotten to the bones." Interviews were featured on the award winning news program #CBS This Morning. Correspondent Jeff Pegues, discussed how threats were posted against black student at Howard University, on social media. It was classified as "racist rants" where some individuals ". . .want to take their frustrations out on the students at Howard." Pegues, went on to express, "In Missouri, just days after celebrating the ouster of two top university officials, students on campus remained on edge. Wednesday night the Black Culture Center was vandalized and prosecutors charged a third man for threatening the campus." Under the subtitle, #Fear At Mizzou, "Nineteen year old Hunter Park, appeared in Missouri court on Thursday, according to court documents. This student was arrested after making threats on social media that were reminiscent of those made by the gunman in the October, Oregon college shooting." Why is it that some of the most intelligent people in the world which consist of staff and students at various universities, are still having dilemmas based on such a negative issue as racism or skin color? How sad our hope for the future is if we have to depend on intellect and youth to resolve this problem of putrid, negativity which can devastate innocent victims.

Suspicious behavior against the innocent victim can bring up a true source of hatred. King Saul of ancient Israel is clearly a perfect example of this. He once loved David but when some of the women within his kingdom was bragging about how, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." (1 Samuel 18:7) Saul became livid at David who had no idea how the King's feelings drastically changed against him. When people are dealing with envy or jealousy, they become unreasonable and hard to deal with. Everyone around them can tell they are out of control but the individual expressing jealousy. King Saul, was totally out of control to the point that he wanted to kill David. This jealousy and hatred of David brought total destruction and eventual death to Saul. What a horrible end he experienced because Saul did not gain control over jealousy and envy.

The desire and craving for another's power or wealth has caused many wars to be started. Millions of people were killed and continue to die today because of envy or jealousy. #The World Book Encyclopedia explains, "Some of the basic causes of war may be a desire for more land, a desire for more wealth, a desire for more power, or a desire for security."

We must fight and get under control our desire to be envious or jealous. Nothing good ever come from these type of actions. Imperfection, causes us to carry out these terrible thoughts in our heart. Having a realistic discussion with others about your desires to demonstrate these tendencies can be vital. Talking to someone who understands and can #help you with the problem can be a relief. Seriously praying to God about your problems with jealousy, is also important since this is one of the major sins that God certainly hates. Try to be a better person by reversing that jealousy into love. Think of something positive about the person rather than dwelling on the negative thoughts of your devious plans. This will not only make you a happier person but will also cause you to grow in love and appreciation for others. We must conquer jealousy and envy before it conquers us.

The word envy is also associated with jealousy. It is described as, "Malice, painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with the desire to possess the same advantage." These are powerful words given by Webster, to help us avoid these characteristics so that we can become more powerful in our lives without surrounding ourselves with such negative acts.

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