What do you think about when you hear the word jealousy? In our culture this normally indicates bad behavior. Behavior we’ve all seen when someone flies off the handle. Have you ever gotten jealous over your friends who live in a bigger house or drive a nicer car?
But did you know that jealousy doesn’t always have to be bad. If it motivates us to do better. For example, to study harder so we can get a better job. Or to work harder so we can get promoted, that isn’t always bad.
Did you know that God is a jealous God? In fact, in Exodus 20:3-5, God tells his people they shall have no other God’s before him because he is a jealous God. Again, in Deuteronomy 24:4 it says, For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. How can God be a loving God and a jealous God? The simplest answer is, God does not get jealous like man does. His jealousy is not driven by emotions. He doesn’t change because of how he feels that day. God is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. God is a jealous God because of his commitment to love you and me. God will not allow you or me to cheapen our relationship with him. In 2 Cor 11:2 the apostle Paul wrote, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” God expects his people to be committed to him like a husband and wife are to be committed to each other. You might say for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, through good or bad.
God’s jealousy is a divine jealousy. A commitment to his people. And it’s this commitment that led him to offer his greatest gift himself. Yes, God is a jealous God because he paid a great price for you and me. But God’s jealousy doesn’t end there, his commitment to you and me, never ends. It is God who gives us every good and perfect gift. His jealousy for us is why he gives us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. God is committed to no one else, like he is committed to his bride the church. And one day his Son, Jesus is coming back for his bride. Will you join me today in praising God for loving us like no other one else has ever done. I pray you will.
