Jealousy and envy are very strong emotions in life. It can be found in the workplace, relationships, marriage, and even in the Church. It can cause tremendous hurt, ugliness, separation, and even crimes of passion. We need to realize how jealousy and envy can destroy relationships if left unchecked. Even a relationship with God. Psychology Today defines it this way:
- Envy is when we lack a desired attribute enjoyed by another, whereas jealousy is when something we have is threatened by a third person.
- When someone is feeling jealous, they are often feeling envious as well.
In the Book of James, chapter four addresses the subject of friendship with the world. What he calls friendship with the Kosmos. James is writing to Jewish Christians who have been severely persecuted and were driven from their homes. (Acts 8:1, Acts 11:19, Heb 10:32-35 )This caused all sorts of hardships in their lives. Yet when they met with other Jewish Christians there were a lot of relational problems, self-centeredness, in-fighting, quarrels, division, and worldliness. It should have been a time of seeking God, praying, uniting together, sharing their faith, ministering to the underprivileged, and being joyful amid their trials.
The third person who is threatening is the world( Kosmos).
We find in (James 4:5) a difficult verse to interpret. Is James talking about the Holy Spirit, the human spirit, or a fleshly, carnal attitude- a wrong heart or spirit? It appears James refers to some Old Testament scripture in the first part of the verse. It is difficult to figure out what scripture it is. He could be just talking in general. Many translations in the second part of the verse refer to the Holy Spirit (Capital S). Can God be a God of jealousy? The attitude of human jealousy isn’t good but how about God being jealous? Let’s look at some different translations of this verse:
- James 4:5 (WuestNT)-5 Or, do you think that the scripture says in an empty manner and to no purpose, The Spirit who has been caused to make His permanent home in us has a passionate desire to the point of envy?
- James 4:5 (PassionNTPsa)-Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us”? (The Holy Spirit pursues us relentlessly and takes it very personally when we turn from him to entertain friendship with the world.)
- James 4:5 (TLB)-5 Or what do you think the Scripture means when it says that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, watches over us with tender jealousy?
- James 4:5 (MaceNT)–5 or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, “does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?”
Here are some basic definitions of some of these terms:
- Friendship– Greek:philia– “a friend” is rendered in Jas. 4:4, “the friendship (of the world).” It involves “the idea of loving (affection, love, fondness)as well as being loved” (Mayor); cp. the verb in John 15:19. . Adopting the interest of the world to be one’s own. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. (Friendship with the world James calls spiritual adultery).
- World-Greek: kosmos– “a harmonious arrangement or order,” then, “adornment, decoration,” came to denote “the world, or the universe, as that which is Divinely arranged.” The meaning “adorning” is found in 1 Peter 3:3. Elsewhere it signifies “the world.” Cp. kosmios, decent, modest, 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:2. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.
- ( It is not talking about the world as in nature, the physical aspect but the world’s system, its arrangement, the order of things, human society without God, its philosophy, values, ideology, it’s human wisdom, governments, secularism, and culture. etc. That which is unbiblical, not according to scriptures.)
- Yearn: Greek-epipotheō:(to yearn); to dote upon, i.e. intensely crave possession (lawfully or wrongfully) :- (earnestly) desire (greatly), (greatly) long (after), lust.
Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. - Envy: Greek: phthonos– probably akin to the base of <G5351> (phtheiro); ill-will (as detraction), i.e. jealousy (spite) :- envy. Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
We can see that James is talking about fondness, friendship, affection, or love for the world’s system. Romans 12:1-2 tells us not to be molded or shaped by the world’s system. Jesus said my Kingdom is not of this world ( John 18:36 ). There is a difference between the world’s system as we know it and the Kingdom of God. It tells us in 1 John 5:19 (NKJV)-19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway (influence) of the wicked one. That Satan is the god of this age ( Greek-aion-age-time period). The contrast between the world’s system and Christ or the Kingdom of God. The contrast between light and darkness, good and evil. Look at Colossians 2:8 (KJV)-8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world (Kosmos), and not after Christ.
The kosmos are under the influence of sin, distractions, corruption, darkness, deception, and Satan. The Bible defines the world in 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)-15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. It is also true that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon the Body of Christ. That we are light and salt in the world.
We are in the Kosmos but not of the Kosmos.
It is very interesting the contrast between outward adornment and the inward heart in- 1 Peter 3:3-4 (KJV)-3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Ok, ladies’ jewelry is fine to wear and to look presentable, etc. but the issue is what is important? The outward show of things or the heart of the person. What do we want to prioritize in our lives? It’s not about economic status or social class, or how we look in front of others. It is about character, the heart, and how we treat others.
James is talking to persecuted Christians. Even though they are under a lot of pressure, He is warning them against fighting, quarrels, division, worldliness, self-centeredness, etc. with one another. We see Apostle Paul addressing a similar thing to the Church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV)-3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? James also tells us in James 3:14-16 (NKJV)-14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Operating with this kind of heart is a sure way to open the door to demonic activity.
You can choose to be better or bitter.
James isn’t pulling any punches. He is giving it to them straight. They need to pull it together as a Church. To walk in love, to keep their eyes on Christ. to pray with the right motives, to do good works, and to maintain a godly lifestyle.
To turn the pressure of life into a passionate pursuit of God and serving others.
James 1:27 (NKJV)-27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Matters of the Heart
So what about James 4:5 (PassionNTPsa)-Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us” So let’s look as James 4:5 as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God? Are there scriptures that support this rendering?
We never think of God being jealous of us but He is.
Look at 2 Corinthians 11:2-(NKJV)-2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 Also in Hosea 2:19-20 (MSG)-19 And then I’ll marry you for good—forever! I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.20 Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You’ll know me, GOD, for who I really am. Romans 7:4 (NKJV)-4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (Isaiah 54:5 , Eph 5:23-27, cf). Deuteronomy 4:24 (NKJV)-24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
When it comes to love for the world’s system or the love for God, He is jealous of us.
The Spirit of God yearns over us with a jealous love. We are betrothed-married to Christ through the New Birth-being born into the kingdom of God. The Spirit of God is saying you are mine and you belong to me. When we love the world’s system more than we love God, He is like a jealous lover. God’s anger is seen with adulterous Israel in the Old Testament. Psalm 78:58 (AMP)-58 For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [for idol worship] and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images. They set up idols they could see and love rather than loving a God they couldn’t see. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 (NKJV)-21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
Fidelity in our relationship with God is very serious.
God’s love for us is so strong. Yet like a jealous lover, He grieves when we allow ourselves to be influenced by the world’s system, to resemble the world, and to act like the world. To have idols in our lives. To elevate, to worship the things of the world above Him. He wants to be number one in our lives. Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)-37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Jesus puts it on the line when he says in Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)–24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Can we interpret the spirit in James 4:5 to be the human spirit within us or the attitude of the flesh? Does the human-recreated spirit yearn for jealousy? The answer would be no. Is jealousy the work of the flesh? Yes! Look at James 3:11-12 (NKJV)-11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. It is the flesh, our carnal nature that would enter into jealousy and envy. Galatians chapter 5:22-23 talks about the Fruit of the Spirit vs. the Works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)-19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In conclusion: Maybe James is speaking of all three ideas. I’m not sure but I think James is speaking of God being jealous for us. The Spirit within jealously guards our relationship to God, and the Spirit is grieved when we sin against God’s love. Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series).
Romans 8:5-9 (NKJV)-5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
It is a season in our lives when God is calling us to fidelity, loyalty, to faithfulness. To be like Abraham who was a friend of God. That we need to be separate from the Kosmos. To focus on our relationship with the lover of our soul and to reach others within the Kosmos and bring them into the Kingdom of God. That they may receive forgiveness and the love of God. We also need fidelity in the Body of Christ. We ought to know how to behave and conduct ourselves in Church.
1 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV)-15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda
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