Jealousy or Love

If you’re a warrior king, wouldn’t you enjoy a song lyric that credits you with striking down thousands? Unless, of course, the next line mentions your rival striking down his ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:7). If you’re a troubled king, wouldn’t you be grateful for a skilled musician who play you back into your right mind? Unless, of course, that psalmist is your replacement and the man after God’s own heart. Jealousy is never a solitary tree growing in a field; it’s a beautiful tree growing in the shadow of an even more beautiful tree. C.S. Lewis reminds us that pride is “essentially competitive.” Shouldn’t we be content with our abilities, our resources, our ministry, and our relationships? Of course, until we see someone with more talent, more wealth, more fruitfulness, and more fulfilling relationships. Jealousy grows in the freshly plowed soil of wounded pride, when God doesn’t deliver what we think we deserve. And if we don’t dig up the bitter root, the insanity of sin grows like kudzu. We may not throw spears or send people into battle hoping they’ll fall by the sword, but just like Saul, we can fall into this downward spiral of pride, anger, fear, jealousy, and violence. How are pride and jealousy at work in our lives in this season? Where do we feel like we’re not getting what we deserve?

If we see ourselves in the sinful insanity of Saul, is there any hope for us? Jonathan, the crown prince and Saul’s son, shows us another way. If Saul’s eyes are fixed on himself and his rival, Jonathan’s eyes appear to be fixed on the true King, the God of Israel. Through eyes of faith, Jonathan sees what the Lord is doing in his father’s life and in David’s life. David is the chosen king of Israel, and rather than fight him, Jonathan embraces him. Jonathan’s choice to love and protect David costs him his shot at the throne and his relationship with his father. Why is Jonathan embracing his rival instead of eliminating him? He has the humility to see that life and the kingdom are not ultimately about him. Jonathan, with his sacrificial love and willingness to be cut off from his father, reminds us of another Son who came as King. Jesus Christ is the true and greater Jonathan. Though He was the King of kings, He did not press for His privileges or demand what He deserved. His humility is astounding. We didn’t understand what Jesus was doing, so we threw the spear at Him. He threatened our kingdom, so we tried to eliminate Him. But in dying on the cross, He was loving and protecting us—His enemies—that we might become His friends. Do we know the humble love of Jesus Christ? Is it striking down our pride and uprooting our jealousy? As we look at the world today, are we seeing through eyes of faith? Are we little kings and queens with sandcastle kingdoms, or are we beloved sons and daughters of the King who has come and is coming again?