Lesson 10 for March 5, 2011

Kudzu is a plant from China and Japan which is one of the 100 most active species in the world. The kudzu seed is small but you must be careful when planting it. As the saying goes, “if you had kudzu, kudzu was all you had”. It spreads very quickly and it covers and strangles all the vegetation around it. Its root can become as large as a human being. It is impossible to uproot it once it has invaded a place.

Jealousy is the kudzu of human emotions. It is born like a small seed, but it pollutes all our thoughts and acts when it takes roots in our heart. It strangles joy, peace, love, patience… When jealousy overcomes you, you do things that you would never imagine. Unlike kudzu --which is used in Chinese traditional medicine, jealousy has no benefit for human being. What does the Bible say about those who allowed jealousy to take root in their lives? Jealousy is the kudzu of human emotions. It is born like a small seed, but it pollutes all our thoughts and acts when it takes roots in our heart. It strangles joy, peace, love, patience… When jealousy overcomes you, you do things that you would never imagine. Unlike kudzu --which is used in Chinese traditional medicine, jealousy has no benefit for human being. What does the Bible say about those who allowed jealousy to take root in their lives?

The seed: He envied Jesus when he was consulted about the creation of man. Growth: It spread its roots among the angles by criticizing God and fomenting the desire of being like the Almighty. The result: Heaven was partly polluted and the earth was completely invaded by evil. What is your reaction when you think you should be consulted about something and people don’t do it? Don’t let jealousy take root in you. Isaiah, 14: 12-14

The seed: Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colours” (Genesis, 37: 3) Growth: : “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him” (Genesis, 37: 4) The result: They decided to kill their brother but they subjected him to a worse end, slavery. Their jealousy was so strong that it exceeded common sense, decency and morality. If you ever envy someone for trivial things, think about the damage you could cause to them and to yourself.

The seed: A simple song aroused jealousy against David in Saul. “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his TEN thousands” (1 Samuel, 18: 7) Growth: He tried to kill David through the Philistines. Then he tried it again and pursued him with all his army. He couldn’t stand that David had the same blessings he had lost. The result: His life was ruined. He lost faith in himself, he killed God’s priests and he even prostrated himself before devils.

“How many there are as weak as water who might have a never-failing source of strength. Heaven is ready to impart to us, that we may be mighty in God, and attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. What increase of spiritual power have you gained during the last year? Who among us have gained one precious attainment after another, until envy, pride, malice, jealousy, and selfishness have been swept away, and only the graces of the Spirit remain,—meekness, forbearance, gentleness, charity? God will help us if we take hold of the help he has provided” E.G.W. (Review & Herald; January 9, 1900)

The seed: The crowd was listening more attentively to an uncultured young man than to them. Growth: They tried to discredit Him constantly by making him say contradictions. They convinced themselves that they were the guardians of the true faith. The result: The result: Their eyes were blinded and they could not discern the TRUTH. They decided to kill Jesus in order to preserve their power and influence. That was how those leaders sealed their eternal destiny. Jealousy may cloud your ability to discern the TRUTH. You can avoid eternal ruin only by a complete surrender with humbleness and faith in God.

E.G.W. (The upward look, June 27)