The Walking Dead [Part 3]

The Walking Dead

This is the final instillation of a three part blog & podcast series that discusses three toxic emotions from the heart that control your life. It’s based off the book, “Enemies of the Heart” by Andy Stanley (can be purchased here) . The blog is a condensed version of the podcast — which comes from a 318LIVE series I did in 2015. I encourage you to read each blog and listen to each podcast as both bring something fresh to the table.

Also if you no longer wish to receive emails after the series just reply unsubscribe as this is part of my regular email list! A few years ago I was reading the local news and came across a story that disturbed me. A guy in our community had murdered his ex girlfriend. Apparently after dating for several years she decided to move on. But when she got a new boyfriend everything took a turn for the worse. She had gotten off work in the early morning and he was at her car with a knife.

What shook me up most was that I knew this guy. We had gone to high school together. Specifically we were in the same gym class — he was a great athlete, always a team player. So what drove him to kill someone?

Jealousy.

James 4:2-3 says, “² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”

You see, jealousy is a teacher. It tells you that if you reject or even kill that which you can’t have then you be satisfied. However, it’s a lie.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, “⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

Love is satisfying. And love is not jealous.

Another dangerous byproduct of jealousy is that it dehumanizes people. How? By identifying them by their blessing or privilege. In Genesis Joseph received a dream from God. Afterwards his brothers started referring to him as “the dreamer” rather than “Joseph, our brother.” What is even more interesting is that they attempted to kill him later on.

Jealousy is dangerous. It’s poison to the heart. And if it is not dealt with it will kill whatever future God has for you. 

So how do you deal with this toxic emotion? You celebrate the advancements, blessings, and successes of others. Also, partner that celebration with the knowledge that when someone else wins it doesn’t mean you lose.

In God’s kingdom everyone wins.

If you have identified any of these emotions that we’ve talked about in this series lurking in your heart it’s important to know that the goal isn’t behavior modification but heart alteration. A true change of heart only comes through God. This means it’s your responsibility to pray to God daily for heart change and rely on his grace in the process.

James 4:7-8 ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

PODCAST: The Walking Dead pt 3

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