“Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always.” – Proverbs 23:17
In our culture of misplaced values and celebrity worship, it can be quite easy to find yourselves doing exactly what this proverb warns us against. We’re cautioned to never envy, be zealous for or jealous towards sinners, but instead fear the Lord. Christians fall to this terrible deception and envy sinners when they lose an eternal perspective.
This life is but a vapor and a shadow, a rest stop on the way to our eternal destination. When the TV programs and media coverage show us the “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” they display the wealth, the riches and the preferential treatment that thesesinners “winners” receive, putting a spotlight on and highlighting only the temporal and material wealth they possess. But there is more to life than the stuff we possess.
Jesus said,
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Matthew 16:26
Our values have to match the Lord’s values. We have to place a premium on that which is eternal and not only on temporary things. When we do this, we are given an amazing capacity to look past things that are temporary into the heart of the matter. Sinners can rack up quite a collection of wealth, material possessions, power and influence here on the planet, but the acid test of a life well lived is NOT “How much did you acquire?” but rather “Will you hear "Well Done" at the judgment seat?”
Living in the Fear of the Lord is living life in the light of eternity. When you do that, it’s hard to be jealous of the man that will have NOTHING to show for his opulent lifestyle here on earth in eternity.
LIFE LESSON?
Don’t envy someone that will spend eternity in the lapping flames of hell.
In our culture of misplaced values and celebrity worship, it can be quite easy to find yourselves doing exactly what this proverb warns us against. We’re cautioned to never envy, be zealous for or jealous towards sinners, but instead fear the Lord. Christians fall to this terrible deception and envy sinners when they lose an eternal perspective.
This life is but a vapor and a shadow, a rest stop on the way to our eternal destination. When the TV programs and media coverage show us the “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” they display the wealth, the riches and the preferential treatment that these
Jesus said,
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Matthew 16:26
Our values have to match the Lord’s values. We have to place a premium on that which is eternal and not only on temporary things. When we do this, we are given an amazing capacity to look past things that are temporary into the heart of the matter. Sinners can rack up quite a collection of wealth, material possessions, power and influence here on the planet, but the acid test of a life well lived is NOT “How much did you acquire?” but rather “Will you hear "Well Done" at the judgment seat?”
Living in the Fear of the Lord is living life in the light of eternity. When you do that, it’s hard to be jealous of the man that will have NOTHING to show for his opulent lifestyle here on earth in eternity.
LIFE LESSON?
Don’t envy someone that will spend eternity in the lapping flames of hell.
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