An Equal-opportunity Sin

[Pilate] knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

Mark 15:10

One of the largest and most active federal government agencies is the EEOC—the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They are responsible for the statement seen nearly everywhere today: “. . . does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” The EEOC’s goal is to make sure everyone gets treated fairly in the workplace and other public and private venues.

Many people are surprised to find that jealousy is an equal-opportunity sin. People think only the poor, the ungifted, the lower classes, the uneducated, or the common man ever get jealous. After all, of whom or what would “the rich and famous” have to be jealous?

Yet anyone can be jealous of someone who has something he or she wants but doesn’t have. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were jealous of Jesus because He was loved and appreciated by the people. Mark 15:10 says that the Pharisees handed Jesus over to Pilate “because of envy.” Anyone who is dissatisfied and discontent is a prime candidate for jealousy and envy.

The strongest defense against the attacks of jealousy is a heart that is grateful for what God has done in your life and for what He is doing in the lives of others.