Comparison Chaos

Read Genesis 30:1–8

Reflection

We are all driven in some way to be noticed, feel important, and have people’s love and respect. When we see others get more attention, or appear to be more important, we can feel insecure about our own significance. The root of jealousy starts with wanting something very much and, then, seeing someone else have it and envying them for it.

Rachel wanted children, desperately. And Leah wanted Jacob’s love, desperately. Instead of focusing on what they did have, they were jealous of the thing they didn’t have. This mentality can lead to all kinds of chaos. Rachel’s jealousy made her blame Jacob, and introduce more wives into the picture, just to "win". She had children through her servants and, while her joy should have centered on the children, it was twisted towards being happy about being better than her sister.

This isn’t the Heart of Christ. Jesus had everything in Heaven: a Seat at the Right Hand of the Father, Power, Glory, and Adoration. And yet, He humbled Himself to become a human – and not an important one, by Earthly standards. Everything Jesus did, from being born as a human to dying as one, was an act of humility – one that was entirely about the other. He didn’t concern Himself with looking better than everyone else. He concerned Himself with loving Humanity and glorifying God.

If you want the secret to keeping yourself from being jealous of others and creating all kinds of unnecessary mess, look to Jesus. Make it about loving others and loving God. Good relationships with people and Christ will give you the security of being fully and forever loved, and there cannot be anything better than that.

Consider and Pray

What and who are you most jealous of right now? Can you be honest enough with yourself to identify why you want that thing so much? Take some time to be grateful for the things God has blessed you with – things that others might even be jealous of – and pray that Jesus would help you let go of the rest as you focus on the certainty of your significance to Him.