Jealous of how God works in others
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here?’ (1 Samuel 17:28a).
Read 1 Samuel 17:17–30
As I write this, our church is doing a series on the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. It is interesting to note some of the parallels. Joseph, the youngest adult son, was anointed by his father with a special coat and by God with vivid predictive dreams. David, the youngest son of his father, was anointed by Samuel (and God) as the next king of Israel. In both cases, the brothers had strong negative feelings (including jealousy) against their younger brother.
The parallels continue. The older brothers are away from home working, with the youngest still safely at home. In the case of Joseph, the older brothers are tending the flock of sheep – searching for good pastures. For David, the older brothers are away fighting a war against the Philistines. In each case, their father sends the youngest brother to see how the older brothers are faring. In each case, we see the jealousy of the older brother(s) express itself.
Considering these parallels, I was reminded of times I have felt jealousy towards other Christians in whom God was working in powerful ways. Why was God not doing wonderful things through me?
One valid answer was that I was not really surrendering my life to God, giving him full freedom to call me to follow him, with the assurance I would follow (I had lots of excuses for why I couldn’t). However, I would like to pick up on another reason that relates back to St Paul’s description of each of us being a different part of the body of Christ. God really has a different plan and purpose for each one of us. When we surrender to God’s plan and purpose for us, it is to trust that he knows what he is doing and to faithfully follow his leading.
We may not get any glory, honour or even acknowledgement for our efforts, but that is the point. We don’t follow God’s calling for what we will get from it, but because of all that God has already blessed us with. The glory, honour or even acknowledgement all belong to God for what he is doing in and through us.
So, each time we feel the first pangs of jealousy about God working in others, an immediate antidote is to praise God for what he is doing in that person’s life and to thank God for all he is doing in our lives. And to pray to God that he would help you see more clearly how he is working in your life to bring his healing and good news to those in need. Maybe, even to re‑surrender your life to God’s will and purpose for you.
Heavenly Father, thank you for having a unique plan and purpose for my life. Please help me to concentrate on your call and not compare myself with others whom you have called for a different purpose. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
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