God is very clear in His Word that He is a jealous God. Many people try and argue that this is a form if hypocrisy because He says that jealousy is wrong. When you examine God's jealoisy , however; you realize very quickly that He is talking about a type of jealousy that is a good kind. It is a kind of jealousy that we should be thankful that He displays. It is also a form if jealousy that all if us should be displaying in certain situations.
Bad jealousy is the type where you want something that does not belong to you, but rather belongs to someone else. The good jealousy that God displays is the kind where one is jealous for something that does belong to them but is wrongfully drifting towards someone or something else.
In our relationship with God, He is jealous for our heart. He wants all of our heart, and rightfully so. He loves us more than we can imagine and He knows what is best for us. He is what is best for us and therefore He wants to live in close communion with Him. Unfortunately however, we are often far too easily satisfied. We try to find fulfillment in things other than God. This makes God extremely jealous because something else is competing with Him for our heart. He alone must be what we find our fulfillment in because He alone provides TRUE fulfillment. Sometimes we can also fall into the trap of thinking that we are completely surrendered to God and are finding our fulfillment in Him when in reality we are not.
Often times the reality is that we are half-heartedly pursuing God, while pursuing other things as well and attempting to find fulfillment in those things. Once again, we must never allow ourselves to be far too easily satisfied. We may think that we are fulfilled by the things we are pursuing and enjoying, and we may think that we are fulfilled by the little bit of God that we are devoting our time to pursuing, but the reality is that until we completely surrender ourselves to God and are completely sold out for Him, we will not know true happiness and fulfillment.
God wants so badly to have this type of relationship with Him, but He will not force it. He says in the Bible, "I stand at the door and knock". He created us and therefore knows what is best for us. He wants to provide it, but we must do our part and pursue Him wholeheartedly. I know from my personal life experiences that I have NEVER been disappointed by Him.
Greater fullfilment can even be found in the things that we enjoy doing when we choose to make God the center of them and do them for His glory. When we decide to worship God with our efforts in all things, and surrender all results to Him, it ensures that we are keeping our focus on Him and finding our fulfillment in Him alone. When we do this, not only will our our relationship with God improve, but we will find greater enjoyment in the things that we enjoy doing. This is because our attitude toward them is in line with the attitude God wants us to have, and anytime that happens we are in the right place to experience true joy and fulfillment. We must never find fulfillment in anything or anyone but God.
I don't believe God will ever bless any of our efforts in anything where that thing is competing with Him for our heart. Our heart belongs to God. He is jealous for it. If ever we are pursuing something and itncompetes with God, I just cannot believe that He will allow us to be fully blessed in it. While this is a result if His jealousy, it is also a result of His love. We are so far better off when we are completely surrendered to Him.
If God truly has my heart, then I will be can mpletely surrendered to Him. HE ALONE WILL BE ENOUGH FOR ME. I will work hard at all things, but be surrendered tonwhatnit becomes, letting Him decide, for I long for Him and Him alone.
Deuteronomy 4:15-31
Deuteronomy 5:4-10
Nahum 1:1-15
Exodus 20:1-7
Psalm 104:1-35
Psalm 78:56-64
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