Is Your God a Jealous God?

"For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you." - Deuteronomy 6:15

Often through time and culture, a word loses its original meaning and becomes tainted. The term "Jealousy" is one such term. Throughout today's society, this word has become both misrepresented and misunderstood, so much so that within the Christian environment it is considered more negative than not.

Jealousy at its core represents God at His truest form. How can I say such a thing? It's simple, just read the biblical text. We are created in His image, and even through the fall, He sacrificed greatly to save us. I've heard it said that, "Jealousy plays a key function in God's activities throughout our lives yet it is nearly disregarded on a daily basis." How is this possible?

Returning to the start, as Christians, we have forgotten the value of true jealousy, choosing instead to adopt society's misinformed definition. Is being jealous a sin? Simple answer: Not if God is! The truth is we should represent the most righteous form of jealousy possible. Not for us and not for others, but for God our Creator. Having been called to love one another by Christ himself, it should only seem natural that jealousy, in its righteous form should take hold in every one of our social relationships. In doing so, by exuding jealousy in such a manner, not only will our love for God overflow in such a way that the people around us know that we do want the very best for them, but we will also be upholding the second greatest commandment given by Christ in truly loving our neighbor.

By defining jealousy through love and protection, we as the Created will begin to emulate our Creator. Something that ultimately should be our goal.