Posted on 04/24/2019 6:00:44 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them” (Proverbs 24:1).
In its most basic sense, envy is the desire to be like others. It could be their riches, their talent, their successes; but the bottom line is that they want to have their life. Do we desire their end as well? Evil men prosper at the cost of their souls. They have exchanged their eternal heaven for temporary joy on earth. There can be no comparison. Most of the advice that Solomon gives, is given to his son. When we are young, we make decisions that will affect not only our lives in this world, but also the one which is to come.
As one studies Proverbs, he comes to the conclusion that pride is the foundation sin for all others. It is what caused Lucifer to shed his holiness for the slimy scales of the serpent, Satan. Close behind pride in it’s severity, is envy.
Envy causes physical illness: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). When one is consumed with the lust for other men’s success, his very foundation is eaten up by bitterness over his own situation in life. The bile attacks many areas of one’s body to the point where they become sick. One may look at how Ahab was affected by his lust for Naboth’s vineyard: “And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread” (1 Kings 21:4). He became physically ill.
Envy harms its subjects: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Proverbs 27:4).
Envy is the product of a carnal mind: “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (I Corinthians 3:3).
Envy is a work of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Envy is a doctrine of demons: “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:14-16).
Solomon tells us to neither lust for their position, nor desire to be with them. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33). Be content with such as God has given you and understand that there is nothing on this earth that we can give up that God will not make up one day through our faithful service to Him. There is a sense where we can have it now, and lose it later—or lose it now, and have in abundance in God’s due time.
Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!
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