Jealousy – A Root Of Evil
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“Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer” (Proverbs 14:30). Think about that. We’re all familiar with the emotional and medical pain associated with cancer. Now try equating that to something ALL of us are guilty of – the evil known as jealousy. Jealousy is marked by an uncharacteristic envy of another’s possessions, lifestyle, etc. While we like to consider ourselves independent people capable of making it on our own steam, we hold bitter sentiments towards those who, for better or worse, have something we desire.
Therein lies the problem. Humans are living, breathing containers of materialism and hypocrisy. If a good friend of mine landed a six figure job in his first year out of college, sure I’d be happy for him; however, I would still be somewhat jealous of his good fortune. To sooth my bruised ego, I would affirm that in 10 years, my annual salary would more than make up for what he earned in the decade within 2-3 years. Yes, this is an extremely trivial example of jealousy, but unfortunately it’s something we encounter everyday on varying levels.
- Person ‘A’ has aspirations and desires.
- Person ‘B’ attains some of the aforementioned goals first.
- Person ‘A’ becomes jealous and finds excuses to explain why Person ‘B’ achieved them before he could.
In the end, Person ‘A’ still loses. Jealousy will only bring about frustration, anger, and ultimately defeat. In my opinion, when it comes down to pursuing success, ambition unhindered by the accomplishments of others is the best route. Making excuses to justify your lack of success will only keep you trailing in the game of life.
So I ask my readership – what problems do you find yourself facing regarding jealousy?
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As a third year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine, my posts are intended to educate others and share my experiences from this incredible journey without violating patient privacy at all costs. These blurbs are not to serve as a replacement for recommendations provided by licensed physicians under any circumstance.Similar Posts
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Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
I think jealousy is part that made us human, but too much jealousy is that good. My motto is that jealousy leads to hate, hate leads to evil, and evil leads to suffering. It is normal for the ordinary people to be jealous of the beautiful people, the ignorant to be jealous of the wise, and the poor to be jealous of the rich. Basically in a nut shell jealousy is what you want to have but did not, instead someone else have it.
I do agree but jealousy is worst than cancer, because cancer only affect the person body while jealousy can destroy not only the body but the soul as well. Unlike cancer it can destroy more than one people, probably thousand if given power. Hitler was just jealous of the Jews and we know where that led. The reason why jealousy is worse than cancer is because jealousy caused good man to fall into evil. How many stories and movies had we read and seen that have good men become evil just because he is jealous of something he can not have.
In for all your jealous people out there who are angry because you can not have that certain guy or girl remember this there is no love in jealousy because jealous y only comes from selfishness of desiring something that is not ours. Let just you have two choices, if the one you love live with you they suffer and if they live with some one else they are happy. Are you selfish enough to married that person and have them suffer or do we love them enough to let them be happy because they happiness is our happiness even though their happiness is not with us.
As I said jealousy lead to anger, anger lead to hate, hate lead to evil. Evil is what make man falls. Regardless of religion we all what become of evil men
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
I think your example Rishi (about the salary) was more of envy than jealousy. To me jealousy has always had a more harsh context than envy…I’m so sleepy, I will write more later..LOL..
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
@Rishi there is a different between jealousy and envy, what Rizwana said was envy. Envy is when you look at someone and you wish to be like them. For example if I see a women my age making a six figure salary, driving an expensive car, beautiful spouse, I don’t hate her but I wish to be like her that is envy. Envy ONLY turn into jealousy if there is hate involve. As long as you dont hate a person that is envy. You don’t have to destroy someone reputation to prove you hate them you can just hate them with your heart that is enough. I hope that is clear.
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
Sometimes being jealous makes us very productive. As human beings we eventually feel jealous of someone, however, it is evil to try to sabotage or cause ill fortune to the person you are jealous of. The same thing for envy. We covet that which we see everyday. However, I believe the best “flaw” you can posses is that of being ambitious. Ambition is way better than jealousy and can take you places, make you soar above the competition. What people have to watch out for is not to step over others as you ascend. You have to think huge, and not think like an ant, if you want to be remembered by humanity for your contribution to mankind. Ernest Hemingway said, “Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” I concur.
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
I didn’t even think about that. But let’s say that instead of feeling happy for him, I tried to sabotage his job. Each moment was dedicated to thinking of ways to make him fail, because I’m “jealous” of him possessing that job. Let’s say I sent an anonymous note to his supervisor containing bad things my friend has done in the past. Would this be more along the lines of jealousy?
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
I like your point about jealousy being worse than cancer as it affects more than just the physical body. I guess it’s just a tragic flaw that all of us possess as humans.
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
You hit the nail on the head about ambition. It think ambition is frowned upon because of the inherent self-centeredness associated with fulfilling one’s goals. If you ask me, “reasonable” ambition is, as you said, the “best flaw” a person can possess. Who defines what’s “reasonable? – the individual in question.
Published: 3 years, 1 month ago
Yeah definitely! I think envy is healthy since it makes you ambitious..Jealousy is not!
For a significant other jealousy example (just to add another scenario) if you see someone making your significant other laugh more or something…the envy thing would lead to you deciding to make them laugh more, etc…the jealous thing to do would be to start a fight about how close they are to the person etc…
so yeah thats my point..