Overcoming jealousy

Jealousy can be a consuming, heart-rending -- and so unnecessary -- burden. We can turn to God for the understanding and love to eradicate this torment. Our great need is to recognize that God is omnipotent Mind and Love, who has created man in His image -- perfect. Not thephysical body but this immortal, God-blessed man is the substance of true identity.

Jealousy is a mortal belief of man's separation from God and His infinite goodness. It comes when people lose sight of spiritual reality and cherish doubt, distrust, resentment. Such enslaving emotions need to be uprooted. how? By seeing that because they don't come from divine Mind they have no real source. As we replace them wiht true ideas from God, with truths of man's immortal being, we are, as Paul admonished, "bringing into captivity every thought to be obedience of Christ." n1

n1 II Conrinthians 10:5;

If we find ourselves envoious of another person, we need to see this person as he really is -- an image of God -- and not a mortal doing something we resent. His true being is the offspring of divine Love and expresses wisdom, justice, goodness. Can we be jealous of a child of God?

Victory over jealousy sometimes requires a fight. If this evil is deeply implanted in consciousness and has been nurtured for some time, it may not be readily rooted out. But this is no reason for discouragement. We can steadfastly turn to God and with alertness replace the jealousy-producing thoughts wiht His love-inspired ideas. If this at first sems unrewarding, we can know that Mind's exhaustless spiritual purity gives nus the ability and authority to press on. Finally our discernment of the reality of good wil grow so bright that the jealousy will vanish into oblivion.

Sometimes we're jealous because of the loss of another's affection. But a clearer recognition of Love's presence will correct this and, if necessary, adjust the situation. Love, God is infinite Soul, the source of all true joy. Looking to Soul and to the understanding of Soul-inspired man, instead of to the mortal senses, for signs of love, we more readily recognize and do what is needed for happiness and progress. God's law put into practice, not wishing, establishes all healthy relationships.

Another form of jealousy comes about when one partner of a marriage unreasonably insist on the other's total time and attention. This type of selfishness and mistrust, unless conquered, is apt to ruin a marriage. Mary Baker Eddy n2 warns: "Jealousy is the grave of affection. The presence of mistrust, where confidence is due, withers the flowers of Eden and scatters love's petals to decay." n3 Healing comes from turning to God and replacing selfish desire with unselfed love, and discerning man's divinely bestowed freedom from domination. In affection higher than fear or self-serving, the native harmony of real love can flourish.

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 68;

One cannot conceive of Christ Jesus yielding to jealousy in any form. He did not tolerate it among his followers. When his disciples, motivated by rivalry and ambition, argued among themselves as to who should be greatest, Jesus rebuked them and said, "He that is least among you all, the same shall be great." n4 Humility is a God-derived quality that quickly antidotes jealousy.

If we approach the task with vision and persistence, jealousy will be overcome.

n4 Luke 9:48.

DAILY BIBLE VERSE The Lord make you to increase and abound in live one toward another, and toward all men. I Thessalonians 3:12