“Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’?”  James 4:5

It’s hard for me to not think of jealousy without a negative connotation. I relate it with lust, coveting, and all the icky stuff talked about in the last two guidelines of the Ten Commandments. This weekend, however, I had the script flipped on my narrow mindset during our new message series on marriage at Life.Church. I have been missing the more important association instead with the Second Commandment and how that plays out in my life’s priorities. It’s another kind of jealousy — a righteous jealousy — at work in the life of every Christian. I have the desire to guard and protect something or someone I care for, with every available means — to be jealous for them, not of them.

I love the way The Voice reads James 4:5-6, “Do you think it is empty rhetoric when the Scriptures say, “The spirit that lives in us is addicted to envy and jealousy”? You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests.”

In Exodus 20 God states, “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” When we put idols and other people before our walk with Him, God’s jealousy becomes stirred. Just as we long to keep our marriages sacred and relationships in tact, He continually longs to keep us near to Him. He corrects, rebukes, comforts, guides, and urges us to get to know Him better. This pure possessiveness doesn’t stifle or demean us, but uplifts and liberates because it is full of grace and truth. That’s why He wants us all to Himself.

I thank God for that kind of jealousy.