As believers, we have to be careful when feelings of jealousy and envy arise in us.
Sometimes we are jealous about something that belongs to us, for example, a husband feeling jealous if he sees another man hanging around his wife. She belongs to her husband.
Our God is a jealous God because we were made for Him and He created us. We are not to serve other gods.
But if jealousy causes us to sin and feel insecure and slander people’s reputation, wealth, and character then it is a sin.
We should not be envious of the things which belong to others.
Here are some Bible verses about jealousy and envy that give us more insight into it:
1). James 4:2
“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.”
2). Proverbs 27:4
“Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?”
3). James 3:14-16
“But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.“
4). Acts 7:9
“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him.”
5). Exodus 20:17
“Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
6). Ecclesiastes 4:4
“And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
7). Galatians 6:4
“Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.“
8). Proverbs 14:15
“Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.“
9). Proverbs 14:30
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
10). Job 5:2
“Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.”
11). Mark 7:21-22
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
12). Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
13). Proverbs 27:20
“Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.”
14). 1 John 2:16
“For everything in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.”
15). Philippians 1:15
“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.”
16). Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
17). John 12:43
“for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
18). Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
19). Proverbs 27:20
“Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.”
20). 1 John 2:16
“For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.”
