Have you ever felt jealous of what someone can do or possess? Was what you experienced envy, coveting, or jealousy? The feelings are similar and commonly confused; therefore, sometimes used interchangeably. Envy and coveting focus on wanting something someone else has that you want. Coveting is envy on steroids and therefore involves more conflict. If you don’t have or cannot do something someone else possesses or is able to do that you want for yourself, that describes the word envy. Coveting is when envy has become more aggressive. Jealousy has more to do with how you feel when someone tries to get from you what you already have. It could be said that it involves feeling threatened or fearful of losing what it possesses and therefore can become aggressive. Envy and coveting ask what this matter says about my worth. Jealousy asks if I am still feeling safe and valued. Jealousy is more intense than envy and therefore can be more intense than coveting if the threat intensifies.
So, what does the Bible mean when it says, “(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” Exodus 34:14 (ESV). “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV). Among many other things, the cross is a vivid illustration of the heat of God’s jealousy. He allowed His own Son to be crucified in order to keep those who surrender their lives, their kingdom, to Him.
The truth is, God alone created us, then bought us back with the price of His Son’s death on the cross. Therefore, He alone deserves the right to ask us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 (ESV). That distinguishes Him from all the rest of creation, because He has the right to the absolute place of adoration, affection, consideration, and every other kind of attention and interest. Therefore, at root, jealousy is a tendency, at least, to take God’s place as King of our lives. He is the only one who has a right to be jealous. He created all things for Himself. Everything has its very being and existence through Him. Nothing would ever be, but for Him. Everything and everyone owe their very being to Him, and He stands, therefore, in the position of having the right, the absolute right, to pre-eminent place – to have everything, to have undivided, unreserved place.
Are we being envious and presumptuous toward God when we do whatever we want to do and expect Him to look the other way? He has a total right to ask of us whatever He desires of us, money, time, pleasure, passion, etc. It is at this point God will show His jealousy for what He created, then bought and paid for. What amazes me is that He not only rightfully asks these things from us, He is also so patient and long-suffering with us. He not only empowers us to follow His ways, but He also even gives us His joy when we give ourselves to obey Him.
Satan used envy when he tempted Eve by telling her she could be “like God”. (Gen. 3:5). What is the difference from him tempting us to do whatever pleasure presented us when, like Eve, we already know what the Bible teaches us about what sin is. We forget that this jealous God has the last word. Have we been careful to follow His ways, the ways of our culture, or our ways? We must remember, every knee shall bow before Him and give an account of what we have done with what He gave us.