In ministry, keeping your eyes on Christ instead of another ministry or leader can be a challenging at times. Every person has been there, wondering why God is moving so miraculously at another leaders church when He is quiet within our own life and ministry. It’s jealousy. It creeps in at times when we have the best intentions but we end up in the worst place of all – doing ministry in the flesh and taking our eyes off of Christ.
As I was reading in Numbers this week, I came across this passage. Read it carefully – Joshua was jealous that God’s Spirit had rested on two guys.
Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. He brought 70 men from the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent. Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again. Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad; the Spirit rested on them—they were among those listed, but had not gone out to the tent—and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
Joshua son of Nun, assistant to Moses since his youth, responded, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
But Moses asked him, “Are you jealous on my account? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets, and the Lord would place His Spirit on them.”
Numbers 11:24-29, HCSB
If you are struggling with jealousy, look at Moses response: “If only all the Lord’s people were prophets….” He was telling Joshua that God wants every person to be full of the Holy Spirit and honoring God where He has placed them.
The application for you: When you are jealous, pray for others to be more successful. Pray that God would place more of His Spirit upon them. That’s what will make a difference in our culture and world. God does not just need your church making an impact. He needs churches of all sizes, shapes and colors impacting the world for Him.
Remember, when you’re struggling with jealousy, pray for others to be more successful. That will get God’s attention so that He can heal your heart!
GREAT post, Josh!
i’m jealous of your childrens pastor!!
Very good advice. I have been jealous before and praying for them and even sometimes with them melted away my jealousy. Not immediately and sometimes I would get in the way. But on your knees God changes things and it is usually MY heart!
Great post!
[...] posted on March 29, 2010 at http://www.joshwhitehead.net/2010/03/29/struggling-with-jealousy/ Comments [...]
@Jenni – you are too kind! Thanks.
@Blake – you should be – Gina ROCKS!
@Brent – Thanks for sharing. I understand me “getting in the way.” It can be tough!
If Joshua could’ve known what God was about to do through him over the next 23 years……