Do not envy the wicked even if they seem to prosper
Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; (Prov. 24:1 NAS)
Do not envy the wicked in their prosperity or apparent well-being. There is more than meets the eye. The wicked are those who do not know God, who live after their own ways. At some point in time, many of us did face the temptation where we thought those who do not know God are better off. Asaph, the Psalmist, faced a similar pressure, and he almost went astray. He said “For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat. ..(Ps. 73:3-4 NAS)
The Lord has said that it is well with the godly, and there is no peace to the ungodly. We must not allow our hearts to be carried away by the seeming fleeting prosperity of those who do not know God, or who arrogantly despise Him. Asaph also thought about this, and he was tempted to think that all the years he had spent serving God was in vain, because those who despised Him seemed to be doing better. He said again “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence” (Ps. 73:13 NAS). Have you ever thought like this? That you have spent your youthful years serving God, or wasted your time in Bible study, praying, fasting, or living a life of righteousness? Asaph finally got the answer to his plight, and said “Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end” (Ps. 73:17 NAS). It shall not end well with those who do not know God. In fact, it is not well with them now. The news is full of stories that tell us that wealth, fame, or success do not bring the satisfaction that we are looking for. God has said it is well with the righteous, and there is no peace to the wicked. It shall not end well with those who despise God, even if they seem to have made it in this life. Be confident about this, that it is well with the righteous. God will not deceive you.
MEDITATE
Ponder upon the words above. Have you had your own share of those thoughts? Or are you still having such thoughts lingering in your mind?
PRAY
Ask the Lord to open your eyes like He did to Asaph.
ACT NOW!
Refuse to entertain any thought that tells you it is better to be in the world than in Christ. Rebuke and reject it. It is a lie from hell that says you have to bow down to Satan and his ungodly ways for you to make it. There are many who have bowed down to the system of the world because they think “if it has to be good, it must be of the world”. You can be very beautiful, and still very godly and holy. You can be very rich and still tender-hearted towards God.
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