“But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them" Numbers 11:29.

In most of our earthly families, it is common to note competition among brothers and sisters and this ultimately culminates in jealousy and sometimes in envy. Sadly enough this competitive and jealousy spirit applies as well to the body of Christ.

In Numbers 11 we have an interesting case on the subject when God advised Moses to choose 70 elders that would help him in his leadership role. God not only imparted his spirit on these elders in the tent, but he did so as well on two people who were not there, which made Joshua uncomfortable. Having noticed that and without any form of diplomacy, Moses asked Joshua "are you jealous for my sake?" Moses’ question indicates the state of Joshua’s heart at that specific moment, an attitude that many of us sometimes have when God is blessing a brother or a sister.

We also have a similar case in Mark 9: 38-41 when John was quite uncomfortable to see that other than closest Disciples of Christ were using his name to cast out demons. John then seemed to be displaying a territorial attitude. Of course, that did not go unnoticed and again Jesus had to rebuke him.

The rationale behind choosing the above passages is that their two main characters are not just anybody; both Joshua and John had been great instruments in God’s hands although they belonged to two different eras. Therefore, if great though they were, their hearts could be homes, even temporarily, for such feelings, anyone including you and me can get trapped in the same vicious circle. How then can we overcome such feelings?

We have the answers in Moses’ explanation. It indeed shows that _*the only purpose for God blessing any citizen of his kingdom is for the benefit of the whole kingdom_*. And while Jesus’ reaction is consistent with Moses’, it goes a step farther to show that a diversity of talents are necessary to advance the cause of the Kingdom (Mark 9:40).

It stems from Moses and Jesus’ reactions that the best way of avoiding envy and jealousy in the body of Christ is to understand that God’s blessing on a particular person is for the fulfilment of a specific goal in His kingdom.

May God help us to be a blessing for one another!