The Bible addresses jealousy in several contexts, distinguishing between worldly and righteous forms. Worldly jealousy is seen as envy of things that do not belong to us, such as possessions or status (Genesis 3:5; Genesis 4:3-8). In contrast, God's jealousy is portrayed as a righteous desire for the exclusive worship of His people (Deuteronomy 5:9; 6:15). The Bible also describes the jealousy of God's people who zealously seek His honor (1 Kings 19:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2). We are warned against worldly jealousy and urged to focus on heavenly treasures and God’s glory (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:30). This distinction helps believers understand the different forms of jealousy and directs them toward righteous zeal for God.
Jealousy is one of those words in Scripture that means different things depending on the context. Whenever God is reported to be jealous in the Bible, He is justified in that jealousy. For instance, the Israelites agreed to worship, obey, and serve Him (Joshua 24). In return, they would take on the identity of God's people. However, they did not keep their word and served idols. The Israelites owed God their hearts, so it was appropriate for God to both want their hearts and be jealous because they rejected Him.
We are also justified in jealousy for God when we see that He is not getting the glory He is due—if we truly know the Creator of the universe and understand how much He has done for us, we will be angered by how unjust it is for others to attempt to steal His glory. The worldly type of jealousy mentioned in the Bible is jealousy to have what someone else has. This, of course, is how we most often define the word jealousy. It is to want what someone else possesses, whether that be a job, car, skill, spouse, etc. Instead of pining after worldly pleasures and indulging in jealousy, we must set our minds on heavenly things and seek to bring God glory with the outpouring of our lives in service to Him.