Jealousy Corrupts

~~~ 1 Samuel 18:6-9;19:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 56 ~~~ Mark 3:7-12 ~~~

...my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?...

Jealousy...
...Saul was jealous of David.

Saul was greatly disturbed by the success David had on the battle field.
He had just slain one of the most feared, Goliath, with one shot.
Saul becomes blinded by his jealousy, but his son Jonathan loves David.
Jonathan admires David as a model warrior...fearless and confident.

Jealousy...
can haunt your soul...

David was the youngest of his father's sons.
He would periodically return home to Bethlehem to care for the sheep.
He was not a trained warrior.
David, sent by his father, went out to bring grain and cheese to his brothers.
They were preparing to enter into battle with the Philistines.

Jealousy...
 can turn you into a monster.

Saul's son, Jonathan, intercedes on behalf of David.

Jealousy...
taints the color of your world.

Saul listens to his son, who not soiled by jealousy,
is thinking more clearly.

Jealousy...
keeps you from experiencing personal joy.

Saul decides to let David live...
at least for now.
Once you let jealousy stake a claim in your heart
it takes dedicated effort to override it.

Jealousy will keep rearing its ugly head stabbing your heart...
filling it with lies and egotistical thoughts.

Jealousy...
is reason enough to shed tears, for your selfishness.

Blessings come in the grace to see the good in others.
In being able to know that another person's success
does not equate to your destruction.

Peace be with you.