ADDICTION and JEALOUSY are GOOD?

[Bill Collier]

Is addiction ALWAYS a bad thing, is jelaousy ALWAYS a bad thing?

 

If you simply say "yes" think again!

 

1 Corinthians 16:15 says this: I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

 

Now, you know and I know that the "saint" here were not some statues or pendants or dead people who were "canonized", they were, simply, the beleivers. It says here that the house, oikos, HOUSEHOLD, a gathering of multiple families who were a Household of Faith, was "ADDICTED" to the "ministry of the saints."

 

What is "the ministry of the saints?"

 

Verses 17 and 18 explain this a bit further:

 

¹⁷I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

¹⁸For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

 

Quite simply, they took care of people, and they supported the work of the ministry others were doing, and not just with resources but in other ways as well, helpong, refreshing their spirit, and simply being supportive and encouraging.

 

So, we SHOULD be addicted.....

 

to the ministry of the saints!

 

But what about that green monster, jealousy?

 

2 Corinthians 11:2-3 tells us when we might be jealous and it actually be godly.

 

²For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

   ³But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Paul is worried here that the Corinthians will fall into legalism and be led astray from the truth, and he does not want that.

 

How often do we have such godly jealousy over our new converts or even over the people we minister to? How often does something rise up within us when we see a member of our fellowship being led astray to scream out "I have espoused you to one husband?"

 

We have a tendency in Christianity to "kill our wounded and abdandon our babies", but if we had godly jealousy over the wounded who have fallen, lest they be snatred and lost to the Bridegroom whom we have espoused them to, or the new convert who is stumbling, we might be willing to go and find them when we don't see them for a few weeks, we might spend time with them in their home to help them and answer their questions or concerns, and we might be willing to show them, by our deeds and not just our words, just how addicted we are to the "ministry of the saints" because we have godly jealousy for the souls we care for or lead to Christ. 

[Sierra Nichole]

I love this article. Thought Provoking. We are to be jealous for souls!

[Juanita]

For twitter

Christian JEALOUSY??? Bring it on! http://bit.ly/4S3ZO1

[F. Anthony DelGrosso, Jr.]

Interestingly, I just read the verse about being addicted to the ministry just a day ago. Addiction to the ministry is a wonderful thing as long as we are addicted to His Presence, first and foremost. I have seen well meaning people become obsessed with ministry to the saints, and err by failing to continually draw near to Jesus, and minister to Him first. It is an easy pitfall. Most will agree that our ministry should be out of the overflow of our cup, which is our sweet relationship with Him, like the apostle John whose head lay on jesus bosom!

I don't have time to respond to the other half of this exhortation, Perhaps there will be more later.

Blessings................Anthony DelGrosso

[Howard Sherman]

No, We are not to be jealous. Period!
However, if we allow God to work through us, and we are open to His leading, then His jealousy will show through us.
This is what the apostle Paul was speaking of; allowing God's righteous jealousy to show through us.
Some may say that this is a double standard; and indeed, on the surface it does appear that way. However, God's jealousy is never established (based) on how He compares to another, but on love and protection for His children. This is no different than the protective type of jealousy a loving parent shows (demonstrates) for their children towards those who would harm them.

[Hope]

I think if we haVE THE MIND OF CHRIST WE CAN FOLLOW THIS SCRIPTURE, THE MOtIVATION BEInG WE ARE ACTING WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST oops caps lock! I see in scripture God is a jealous God for his people so if it is in scripture then it has to be. Besides I long to see people really, really going after the lost. I always pray God lets me feel, know , sense deeply a longing for the lost . It was the sick he came for, not the well they already know to whom and where they belong.
The jealosy Paul was talking about was meant to keep those that are Christs safe and in him lest they be led asray. I f they were led astry then they would in turn pass the leaven on through the future bread. In short jealousy for the saints is necessary because they are carrying the very life words of christ to the future generations, through the Holy Spirit.

[Sierra Nichole]

Amen, Hope! We are to be Christlike and Jesus was a jealous man! lol. Granted, it wasnt the kind of jealousy that we automatically think of but he was jealous. He was jealous for the hearts of men. God as well says he is jealous for Israel.

[Sierra Nichole]

Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Joshua 24:19
Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God.

Psalm 79:5
How long, LORD?Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?


Ezekiel 36:6
“Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations.”


Nahum 1:2
[ God’s Wrath on His Enemies ] God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;


Romans 10:19
But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
Romans 10:18-20 (in Context) Romans 10 (Whole Chapter)

Romans 11:14
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
Romans 11:13-15 (in Context) Romans 11 (Whole

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:1-3 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter)

James 4:5
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

[Dwayne Leon Gobin II]

Bill, that is such an anointed message. You are so right; just as God is a jealous God and does not want us to serve anyone but Him, we must be the same when we begin to see others fall away. There are times when my wife had said that I was obsessed with God and that it wasn't right to be that way, and I disagree with her because Jesus should be our obsession and our only addiction. Addicted to God and to the ministry of the saints as you have elaborated on. May you continue to lead on as Christ leads you my dear brother in Christ!

[Jan]

Good article!
I would like to comment on this,"We have a tendency in Christianity to 'kill our wounded and abandon our babies' .." Boy do I agree...that to our shame!!
But I am not sure what you mean by what was said right after that " ....lest they be snared and lost to the Bridegroom...." How can a Christian...wounded... though he may be...or baby.. though he may be.....be"lost to the Bridegroom"???
Jan

[Lisa]

My guess is that this would be the Christian who out of deep wounding or the confusion of immaturity gives up and walks away. I nearly did this at one point. If I had done it I would have never come back. I was ready to throw Bible right out the door; hang it up and never talk to the Lord again. Doing so would have resulted in my being forever lost to the Bridegroom .
Lisa

Jan said:

Good article!
I would like to comment on this,"We have a tendency in Christianity to 'kill our wounded and abandon our babies' .." Boy do I agree...that to our shame!!
But I am not sure what you mean by what was said right after that " ....lest they be snared and lost to the Bridegroom...." How can a Christian...wounded... though he may be...or baby.. though he may be.....be"lost to the Bridegroom"???
Jan

[Jan]

Jan said:

So,if a Christian is wounded or immature...gives up...walks away...God gives him up???
What would be the point of Christ dying if...one could so easily be lost again?

I just think God is a bit more powerful than that. You may have walked away...but you were His....and He would woo you back. : ) He is quite a lover of His bride! You might say He is Jealous!

[Dwayne Leon Gobin II]

I know that in the Baptist denomination, it is "once saved, always saved". I do not quite agree with this and believe me, I am not knocking what Baptist's believe and do not believe; but, a good example would be Judas Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve disciples that ate with Jesus, walked with Jesus, prayed with Jesus and slept at the same places as Jesus did. With all of that said though, Judas still turned his back on Jesus and not only deceived him but denied him because if we are doing anything to betray Christ, then we are denying who He is. Judas betrayed Jesus and will forever live the eternal death. I know what it is like to live for Christ and then fall away from Him and live a complete opposite life; it is something that I never want to do ever again. If I had not returned to Christ when I did, I may had been lost forever. Thank you Jesus for all that you have done!

Jan said:

Jan said:

So,if a Christian is wounded or immature...gives up...walks away...God gives him up???
What would be the point of Christ dying if...one could so easily be lost again?

I just think God is a bit more powerful than that. You may have walked away...but you were His....and He would woo you back. : ) He is quite a lover of His bride! You might say He is Jealous!