Jealousy

     Life is complicated even when you do your best to keep it simple.  Sometimes people seem to just not like you, even when there is no cause.  Sometimes people are jealous of things that seem unworthy of being a position for jealousy.  We are all human.  Jealousy can creep in so easily, even for those people with the best intentions.  We all need to deal with our feelings of jealousy by acknowledging them and figure out the cause to face it.  Otherwise it can cause you to do some things that are out of character. 
     The first church experienced this.  The Jews became jealous of the missionaries of Christianity because their congregation was growing so fast.  The Jews got together some unseemly characters to work up a mob to  riot against Paul and Silas.  Jason, their host was taken to officials to be tried for helping them.  He was eventually released, but the authorities kept pursuing Paul, Silas, and Timothy.  This resulted in them having to split up for a while.
     Things don't need to get that far.  We don't have to hurt each other if we can just admit that we are humans that have insecurities, neediness, or just prideful.  There will always be people that will listen to reason and those in whom will not.  Stand for what it righteous no matter how difficult it may become.  Don't stop serving God when it gets difficult. (Acts 17:1-15)

^{5 "}But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. ⁶ When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” ⁸ The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. ⁹ After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them."  Acts 17: 5-9 (CSB)