“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” — Galatians 5:26 NIV
Although jealousy and envy are very similar, they are not the same thing. Envy is a feeling of discontentment or resentfulness or longing for someone else's possessions, qualities and situations. Envy is when we look at what someone else has and we think about it and want it. If we see something someone else has and think it is cool or worth pursuing, that is not necessarily wrong or a sin. However, envy comes into play when we become discontent or bitter with what we do or don’t have.
For example, if someone says, “That’s a cool car!” that doesn’t necessarily mean they are envying the driver or their car. However, saying “That’s a cool car. I really hate mine. It’s always causing problems. I just wish I had a car like that person. I’d be so much happier!” — this could be envy and come from a place of bitterness and resentment.
Jealousy is when we are protective or defensive of something that is ours or something that we feel could be ours. For example, we may be jealous in relationships. If our friend if spending more time with another person than us, it could cause jealousy. Or maybe we could be jealous if we think someone else wants our position at work or someone else is finding success professionally when we are not.
Sometimes envy and jealousy can go hand-in-hand in a situation or circumstance. No matter which one we are facing, we should equip ourselves so when the situation arises, we know how to handle our emotions and reactions.