Jealous of Generosity

In the 20th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew the vineyard owner asks the workers who have been there all day if the are jealous because he is generous, after he has paid those workers who have only worked for an hour the full days wages.

How often we are jealous when we see God's generosity to others. We are jealous when we see how many good things God has given to others. We are jealous when we see how many wonderful talents God has given to others. We are sometimes even jealous when we see how freely God forgives others and brings them into His kingdom - so much so that we sometimes try to add our pre-conditions for salvations.

Jealousy is so easy to fall into, seems so natural, becomes a habit. We can begin to think it is a part of our human nature. And perhaps it is. But our nature includes both the goodness that God originally created in us and the sin nature which we have acquired from the other.

So, yes jealousy is part of our human nature, but it is also a sin.

God forgive.