I end all my emails with the word shalom, wishing the reader peace, but actually there is so much more to it. With that one word it is prayed that the person will receive fullness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, calmness, prosperity, perfection, rest and harmony from God. Now that’s by definition.

The definition does not end here and also asks that the following be absent in the person: anxiety (fear), danger, discord and jealousy. The last two have to do with something where we ourselves have a hand in the pie.

Each person has a choice whether to engage in discord or not. This is when there is no peace and there is a fight going on. I can decide for myself whether I will participate in it or whether I will instead become the peacemaker.

But the tricky one is jealousy. In the beginning it’s not big, it’s just a quick look at the things that friends or family have and then you say to yourself how nice it would be to have that too.

Later, the seed germinates and grows into a big plant that steals our joy and peace, indeed our entire shalom. The hole of missing what others have becomes so big that eventually we have just that – a hole.

And before we know it, we start begrudging others for what they have. Every time we talk about them, it is in a negative and degrading way. And in such circumstances a shalom life is not possible, because it is precisely ourselves who stand in the way of the blessings coming true in our lives.

²You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to.

Of course, we can have dreams. Of course, we can imagine the things we would like to have in the future as well. Of course, we must empower ourselves to continue advancing in life.

But we have to make sure that it doesn’t become an obsession. We must appoint guards that will prevent the seeds of jealousy from being planted so that they do not slowly but surely become plants that steal our sun from us.

It starts exactly where we allow others to enjoy what they have and rejoice with them about it.

Dig deep and find the seeds of jealousy that may lurk somewhere in your life. Rip them out, because we will receive nothing that way. Make a real effort with this one and make sure it is absent from your life.

And while we are busy with the shalom blessing, I want to say the rest over you as well: May God rain upon you: fullness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, calmness, prosperity, perfection, rest and harmony. And may God help you so that fear, danger, discord and jealousy do not come to you.

Scripture
James 4:1-6

Reflection
Where do you think seeds of jealousy are hiding in you?
What do you desire?
How can you prevent what you desire from taking over and poisoning you?

Prayer
Father, thank you for everything You give us. I do realize that sometimes I want more, especially when others around me have it. Help me to open my eyes to the destructive seeds of jealousy and take them out before they germinate. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.