LOVE DARE DAY 8, “LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS,”

Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire.

—Song of Solomon 8:6 NIV

 

Jealousy is a common struggle. If you're not careful, jealousy slithers like a viper into your heart and strikes your motivations and relationships. Yes, if you're not careful jealousy can also infect your marriage.

 

It's time to let love, humility and gratefulness destroys any jealousy that springs up in your heart. It's time to let your spouse's successes draw you closer together and give you greater opportunities to show genuine love.

 

It is so hard not to get caught up in "jealousy," because there are two definitions, first, legitimate jealousy based upon love, and second illegitimate jealousy based upon envy.

 

Taken directly from the "Love Dare," book and such a good insight, "If you don't diffuse your anger by learning to love others, you may eventually begin plotting against them." We are all guilty of wanting what another person has or does, it is so human to aim towards this type of jealousy, but when you stop and reflect on God's love for us then you start to pull away from thinking with this mind frame. God wants us ultimately to only "need him, love him, trust in him." Why would God not be jealous of us when we didn't always come to him first? The bible warns us against worshiping anyone other than God in Deuteronomy 4:24, "the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." He desires for us to only know him on a personal level.

 

A good example of the type of jealousy we should not have is in the example given in the book. A man goes golfing while the wife stays at home and tends to laundry, he comes home and is so excited about his golf score, and she doesn't care and doesn't want to discuss it because she is clearly upset. Love is not selfish and always puts others first. Take a moment to hug your spouse and tell them congrats on whatever it is that they accomplished and feel proud of for the day. If it means enough for your spouse to smile and include you in on it, then it should mean enough to you to embrace them with happiness and unselfish love,

 

It's hard, it is a daily adventure, but one worth taking or breaking of old habits.

 

 

Today's dare:

 

Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan & reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help set your heart on your spouse & focus on their achievements, take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he/she recently enjoyed.