Jealousy and Self Ambition
James 3:16 (NLT) “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
This scripture is very interesting. It deserves digging a little deeper to ensure nothing is missed. The first part of the scripture focuses on two aspects of human emotion and human motives. The two aspects are Jealousy and Selfish Ambition.
For a refresher, jealousy is the fear of losing what you already have. Not to be confused with envy. Envy is wanting what you don’t have, that someone else already possesses. The end results are the same; they both have selfish ambitions. And Selfish Ambitions points to selfish motives. So, if you are in an environment surrounded by people who are jealous and whose motives are directed only towards themselves, you will find disorder, confusion, unrest, and all sorts of rebellion. And evil of every kind.
Remember, it was Pride that got Lucifer kicked out of Heaven. The thing to remember about Pride is that it has the letter “I” in the center. Pride is about yourself. And that is what God hates. Pride, or a person who has selfish motives. So, here we have a description of evil of every kind, based on the results of selfish ambitions and of a person who only thinks about themselves. When you hear a person constantly talking about what they want, doing only what is convenient for themselves, and never sacrificing their time or resources to help another person, be very careful. That person may be cultivating an environment for all sorts of evil.
Ask God to search your mind and spirit to see if you have selfish motives. I’m not saying that you can never desire or want anything. What I’m saying is that if you wake up in the morning, your only desire is to make sure you get what you want. How about asking God who you can help today? Humble yourself before the Lord. Ask God what He wants you to do instead of you telling God what you want Him to do for you.
Be Blessed!
Ron
Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright July 1st, 2026, All Rights Reserved