WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 24, 2026
TOPIC: WHOM ARE YOU JEALOUS OF?
BY T. O. BANSO
“On the next Sabbath day, almost everyone in the city came to hear the word of the Lord. Seeing the crowd, the Jewish people became very jealous and said insulting things and argued against what Paul said” (Acts 13:44-45 New Century Version).
The word “jealousy” is used positively and negatively in the Bible. Jealousy is both a positive and a negative emotion. It is often used synonymously with envy in various Bible translations. In this devotional, I focus on the negative use of the word, which is defined as “a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want” (Cambridge Dictionary).
During the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, they came to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue, and after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue’s rulers asked them if they had any word of exhortation for the people. Paul stood up and delivered a message recorded in Acts 13:16-41. The message had a positive impact on the people, so that when the Jews left the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that the words be preached to them the next Sabbath. Many Jews and godly converts to Judaism, who worshipped at the synagogue, followed Paul and Barnabas, and both persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (verses 42-43).
Having had a good meeting, Paul and Barnabas must have looked forward to the next Sabbath day, having been invited to come to preach to them. Therefore, they went to the Synagogue on the next Sabbath day. Acts 13:44-45 says, “On the next Sabbath day, almost everyone in the city came to hear the word of the Lord. Seeing the crowd, the Jewish people became very jealous and said insulting things and argued against what Paul said” (New Century Version).
There was a large turnout at the Synagogue, which could have been due to the impact of Paul’s message the previous Sabbath. Apparently, word had gone round, and the congregation was huge. This is the kind of turnout that would gladden the heart of any preacher and anyone who loved to see multitudes hear the Word of God.
However, some people were not happy. They were “very jealous” of Paul and Barnabas for the huge crowd that came to hear the word of the Lord. They were jealous of the success and the impact of Paul’s ministry. These jealous people, according to the Bible, were Jews.
Obviously, not all the Jews in the Synagogue were jealous. The previous Sabbath, the Bible says that many Jews and godly converts to Judaism who gathered at the synagogue followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (verses 42-43). Those who were very jealous were the Jewish religious leaders, who must have been uncomfortable that more people were going to believe the teachings of Paul. These Jewish leaders were practising Judaism.
Acts 13:44 says that almost everyone in the city came to hear the Word of the Lord! That’s awesome. The entire city turned up to hear, not the word of Paul or Barnabas, but the word of the Lord! But the Jewish leaders were jealous. Probably, they had never recorded such attendance. They must have queried why these Christian preachers did.
What did these Jews do? “Seeing the crowd, the Jewish people became very jealous and said insulting things and argued against what Paul said” (Acts 13:45 New Century Version). Note the phrase “the Jewish people became very jealous.” Jealous because of the multitudes, they slandered Paul and opposed everything he said.
However, Paul and Barnabas declared boldly, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46 New King James Version).
Nevertheless, the Gentiles were very glad and praised the Lord’s Word. Many of them believed. The word of the Lord spread throughout that region. “Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town” (Acts 13:50 New Living Translation).
Did you see what jealousy made these religious leaders do? They caused trouble to stop the preaching of the Word of God. Yet, these leaders would claim to be worshipping God. Because of their persecution and expulsion, Paul and Barnabas shook dust off their feet and went to the city of Iconium, where a similar thing happened.
Whom are you jealous of? Ministers of God can be jealous, just as their followers or members can. A minister can be jealous of other ministers because of the anointing or grace of God upon their lives. Some ministers can be jealous of the nature, scope, impact, membership strength, fame, public acceptance, and human and material resources of other ministries.
Are you jealous of any minister? Paul said some people preached Christ from jealousy (envy) and strife, and some from goodwill (Philippians 1:15). Some are being driven to ‘succeed’ in ministry out of jealousy. They are not running the race that is set before them; they are not running in their own lane. This shall not be your portion.
Ecclesiastes 4:4 says, “Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind” (New Living Translation). This shall not be you. Be careful! Don’t be jealous of any minister.
Jealousy is not only a sin; it can cause one to commit other sins, even as a minister. Mark 15:10 says that Pilate knew that the chief priests had arrested Jesus out of envy. Matthew 27:18 says a similar thing. They eventually became murderers because of jealousy! Cain killed his brother, Abel, because of jealousy (Genesis 4).
Christians, who are members of the same assembly, can be jealous of one another because of their roles, functions and grace, professions, social status, life’s accomplishments, material possessions, etc. Comparison leads to jealousy. Stop it! “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else” (Galatians 6:4 New King James Living Translation).
Worse still, Christians can be jealous of sinners, especially because of their wealth, social status, or achievements. Psalm 37:1-2 warns, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (New King James Version). Similarly, Proverbs 23:17 warns, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day” (New King James Version).
Whom are you jealous of? Is it your neighbours, colleagues at work, your friends, fellow believers, relations, competitors, etc.? Some people are even jealous of their benefactors or helpers, and the jealousy pushes them to do evil against them. They may succeed in carrying out their evil plans, and when they’re eventually caught, they start crying that it is the work of the devil. Don’t be jealous of anyone. “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:16 New Living Translation).
Jealousy is destructive. It may destroy the person someone is jealous of, but it will certainly destroy any jealous person who doesn’t repent. Proverbs 27:4 says, “Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous” (New Living Translation). Jealousy is more dangerous than anger and wrath. Jealousy is like cancer in the bones (Proverbs 14:30b).
Jealousy is one of the marks of being controlled by your sinful nature – carnality (1 Corinthians 3:3). It is part of the works of the flesh, and it will hinder you from inheriting the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Don’t be jealous of anyone. You don’t know their stories. You don’t know their life’s journey. You don’t even know where the shoe is pinching them. You don’t know their struggles. There is more to what you see or know about them.
Repent of jealousy today. Lay it aside, alongside other sins (1 Peter 2:1-2). Walk in love with others. Love, the unconditional love of God, agape love, is the solution to jealousy. Love is not jealous (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love does not harm a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10). Don’t be jealous of anyone.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I will walk in love with all; I shall not be jealous of anyone. Help me, Holy Spirit. I will not be a victim of anyone’s jealousy in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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