By Colleen O’Sullivan
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for
he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved
him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet
him. (Genesis 37:3-4)
Piety
Lord, may we have hearts filled with gratitude and
overflowing with thanksgiving. May there
be no room for the seed of jealousy to sprout and take hold.
Study
Over the course of human history, jealousy has
split up many a couple, alienated siblings one from another, and caused
needless rifts in families. Jealousy,
like kudzu, is very unattractive and leaves room for little else. Whatever common sense, gratitude or kindness
once resided in our hearts is overpowered and extinguished.
Once jealousy takes root, it mutates and grows like
a cancer. As we see in this snippet from
Joseph’s story in the Book of Genesis, the fruit of jealousy’s twisted vines may
end up being hatred or murderous rage.
Ironically, the storyteller never says Israel loved
only Joseph. Presumably, he cherished
each and every one of his children.
Maybe he did dote on this youngest son, the child he never dreamed of
having at his advanced age, but that didn’t mean he didn’t also feel great
affection for his older boys. Sadly,
Joseph’s siblings never stopped to count their blessings or to realize that
they had everything they needed, most especially a loving father. Jealousy’s poisonous tentacles had wrapped
themselves too tightly around their hearts.
They conspired to murder their younger brother but
ended up “only” selling him into slavery.
Their actions, rooted in jealousy, caused Joseph years of needless
separation from his family and brought deep grief upon their father. They also sentenced themselves to lifetimes weighed
down by sin and guilt.
What was the point?
What did they gain? Nothing, as
far as I can see. Jealous people are
seldom satisfied or happy, because there’s always that suspicion that someone
else has what rightfully should be theirs.
Jealous people are not grateful.
They seldom thank God for their blessings. They can never trust that what they have been
given is sufficient for their needs.
Action
During Lent we examine our hearts.
If what we find there is jealousy, maybe our gaze is fixed in the wrong
direction. Instead of focusing on those
around us and what they have that we imagine should be ours, try looking to God
and taking inventory of all the gifts you have received from God. You might find yourself overwhelmed if you
start making a list of all God has given you.
A good way to do this is to review your day with the Lord each night. Recount all the blessings of the day and give
thanks. Do this daily for long enough
and your life will become a life lived out of gratitude. You’ll forget all
about checking to see if the grass looks greener on any other side.
Truly, a grateful heart cannot at the same time be a jealous heart.
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