'The Green-eyed Monster' | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: 'The Green-eyed Monster' | Previous Challenge Entry
By KC Lemmer
02/15/15
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Envy. Straight away, this word brings to mind long lessons sitting in my English class delving into the world of ‘Othello’, a man in a position of power who, through treachery, is bitten by jealousy. One of those nearest to him warns him saying, ‘O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on (3.3.15)’. The image of a ‘green-eyed monster’ gripped my attention then and has stuck with me until today. Vicious and scornful, this creature is preferably not to be tangled with.

I think Shakespeare captured this despicable thing perfectly – it is something that has a life of its own and grows until it can devour you. It does not bring blessing, peace or happiness, but only further shame and dissatisfaction.

Quite a few years ago now, we had a death in our family. We had grown up in a wholesome, happy home in a loving community, but suddenly this death changed everything. I would look at my friends with their two parents and siblings – a whole family – and then look at my broken little family with the gaping hole in it. My bleeding heart watched my friends’ families with jealously, coveting their unity, love and security. Within a year, we had left that town and familiar roots were cut from underneath me. One by one familiar foundations disappeared and I would look back on the past that could never be again and on the present ‘back home’ that went on without me there. Friends still stayed in touch and familiar family gatherings continued; they were whole people. And there I was, a stranger in a strange land – isolated and broken.

Envy can start due to hurt, insecurity or rejection. There could be quite a few reasons why it can grow inside of you, but there is no valid reasons for letting it stay in your heart. As Shakespeare so aptly said, it ‘doth mock the meat it feeds on’.

Envy did dwell in my house for a while, and sometimes it still comes knocking. All those years ago I let it stay and it ate away at me, spiritually and physically. Proverbs 14:30 (ESV) says ‘A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh but envy makes the bones rot’ and James 3:14-16 (ESV) says ‘But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.’ Proverbs speaks truth – where there is jealousy and selfishness, it makes room for all other problems and sins to arise. And then what seemed so small and justified suddenly becomes a consuming monster that is devouring you: devouring your peace, your joy, your freedom – devouring your life.

My freedom came through Christ. No, I wasn’t going to have the family I once had. No, I wasn’t going to keep the same close friendships I once had, or the same hometown I once had. But I could still have a hope for my future (Jeremiah 29:11) because of the life that can be found in Jesus. When Jesus is let into a life, there’s no room for a green-eyed monster and its friends. The very nature of Jesus means that darkness and sin has to go, there’s only room for Him. If we lose focus, and make room for darkness, then we lose our freedom that comes in Him. Galatians 5:1(ESV) gives us instructions of what to do with the freedom that is given to us; it says that it is ‘For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.’ Jesus did bring freedom to my life and body. He healed my hurting family and drew us even closer together, bringing us hope. He made room for me in unfamiliar lands amongst unfamiliar people. He breathed life into me again.

Stay away from envy – it’s soul-destroying. Fighting jealousy, avoiding selfish desires and battling for truth is a worthy cause. Listen to Biblical truths, dwell on them, accept them, apply them. Make sure that there is no room for green-eyed monsters, because just as it devoured Othello, so it can ruthlessly devour you. Instead, live in the freedom that can be found in Jesus’ forgiveness and healing.

(non-fiction)

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.