Jealousy is such a delicate word, people really should be mindful of how they throw it around. It is an emotion characterized by anger, resentment and disgust. Left to me, jealousy is an emotion we can’t help, it’s innate. What becomes the problem is when you allow that jealousy become envy. It’s almost like the difference between H.I.V and AIDS. Although one is gotten from the other, they are both one and the same. I know- it’s a very weird construct. When you see your fellow man moving and the same isn’t happening to you, you are bound to feel a certain way about it. Human beings are progressive creatures that ask questions and feel funny when they aren’t progressing.
That doesn’t mean you’re a vindictive or spiteful person, it just means you want to move when others are moving and would like things to happen to you at the same appropriate time it is happening to others. As our heavenly father that God is, I personally don’t feel he would take offence if after committing your affairs into his hands you ask for a confirmation or reassurance if things aren’t going the way you expected. Christians always forget that we are not God, and are so quick to shout blasphemy when you even come close to complaining or questioning God’s intentions. We all strive to be Christ like: meaning to be like Christ (for those that don’t understand). This very statement is acknowledging the fact that we are mere mortals, and as such, we are bound to feel pained when we lose or seemingly get left behind.
As children, we feel sad when we don’t get what we want. You might be wondering what I mean by children- but aren’t we all children of the most high? Irrespective of age, we are all children in his eyes and novices in this ‘lifeing’ stuff. People often mistake envy for jealousy, and annoyingly use them in the place of each other. In my opinion, jealousy is felt when another person receives a slight edge over you. Its temporary, you’re supposed to feel it just momentarily and then allow it to slip away. But when over time you feel pained because someone else has something that you don’t, that’s envy. Which means, you’ve made a concerted effort to hate someone over something they have. Even the dictionary defines envy as a feeling of discontent or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities or luck.
You and your friend were vying for a promotion at work, and he gets it. You initially feel a pang of anger, but you let it go and be happy for him regardless. You were initially jealous he got it, but you let it slide. Now, if you hate him based off of his new position and the perks that come along with it and you do things to sabotage him, you’ve allowed it cross into the dangerous realm of envy. Even during award ceremonies, the other nominees who didn’t win are supposed to feel jealous for the person that won. Yes they will all smile and congratulate, but will most likely be angry they didn’t get it instead. This is just my interpretation of the whole thing, I might be wrong. Nowadays, people are too quick to accuse you of being jealous like you’ve committed a crime, or it’s something you have control over. In actual sense, they mean to say he/she is an envious person, but as I said- people use the two in the place of each other. I can’t remember if its envy or hunger that’s associated with the colour green: either way, the safest zone is neutral. Peace and Love