Scripture: “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” – (23:17)
Observation: Our key verse targets a very common problem – envy! Solomon warns that we should not be envious of others, but instead focus our hearts to the Lord continually. It is only through Him that we will find complete satisfaction and contentment.
Application:
Have you ever found yourself wishing you had something that someone else had? We all have probably found ourselves in that situation at one time or another. Envy involves wanting what someone else has, and that can lead to some very serious problems.
One huge problem with envy is that its focus is often on ungodly people and their possessions or achievements in life. When we want what others have, we fall into the sin of covetousness, and this often leads to doing whatever it takes to “keep up with the Joneses”!
The phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” refers to the pressure we put upon ourselves to be like others who we deem to be more highly esteemed or successful than us. We see a person’s value in their worldly successes, and we begin to measure ourselves by the world’s standards instead of God’s standards. Things such as wealth, fame, power are very alluring, and the coveting of them can easily become all-consuming in our lives. Additionally, things such as a new car, a job promotion, or even someone’s spouse or family can lead to feelings of envy! The constant comparison to those around us leads to the weed of envy taking root and growing wildly in our lives, overtaking our lives, and ultimately leading to intense dissatisfaction and destructive behaviors
The Bible cautions us against envy in several places. Here, Solomon warns against coveting what others have. Temporal things, such as expensive possessions or positions of prestige and power are fleeting. When they vanish, those whose hope was placed in those things, find it difficult to face life. Their feelings of self-worth which were directly tied into money, notoriety, and power, evaporate, despondency and despair in its wake. Numbing the loss can lead individuals to drugs, alcohol, and other actions that can have devastating consequences. Their envy perpetuates a destructive cycle which never yields contentment because their goal is unattainable. There will always be someone richer, more famous, more powerful, or more influential.
In contrast, when an individual has a relationship with Jesus, their self-worth is not based upon the acquisition of worldly goods, fame, or riches. A Christian’s self-worth comes from the realization that as sinners, we are completely unworthy of the love of God, yet He loves us regardless! Knowing that Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins was the ultimate act of love, and His sacrifice was for everyone regardless of our worldly possessions, bank account, social status, etc. God doesn’t care about any of that! Acts 10:34-35 states. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
In God’s eyes, we are all the same, and He loves us all. Nothing matters to God except our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour, we become a beloved child of God! We are cherished and treasured by Him for all eternity. It doesn’t matter where we are from, what we’ve done in our lives, or how much we’ve sinned! God loves each one of us unconditionally! All we need to do is call upon His name for salvation. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:13 affirms, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In Christ, we have everything we could ever want!
If you don’t know Christ as your Saviour, and you’d like to know more about Him, I’d love to share Him with you. Just drop me a note in the comment section below!
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You gave Yourself for me on the cross. Thank You for meeting every need I have ever had, and for giving me such an abundant life full of joy through You! Thank You for the promises in Your Word, especially the one where I get to spend all eternity with You in heaven! I love You! In Your name, I pray, amen.
Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without him I would fall:
When I am sad, to him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, he makes me glad, He's my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, my friend in trials sore;
I go to him for blessings, and He gives them o'er and o'er:
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest's golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He's my friend.
(from “Jesus is All the World to Me” by Will L. Thompson)
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“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” – Romans 10:12