Proverbs 23:17-18
17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Do you ever envy the good-looking, care-free people who have multiple sexual relationships? Unfortunately there are a lot of movie/TV/music/athletic "stars" who promote this ideal, from James Bond to the the latest MTV video. It seems like such a fun, pleasurable life, but we only see the surface veneer, not the broken hearts and relationships that also occur. If we envy these people, imagining that we are in their place, we are in effect declaring our dissatisfaction with our life and God's commands. The antidote is to "continue in the fear of the Lord" (verse 17) and to remember that "surely there is a future" (verse 18) for you. If we fear God and realize He has a better plan for our lives, then we will understand how "the beautiful people" really are missing out if they are missing God. And then we can be comforted in knowing that there is a greater reward awaiting us in heaven.
Lord, help me to have Your perspective on the world.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Do you ever envy the good-looking, care-free people who have multiple sexual relationships? Unfortunately there are a lot of movie/TV/music/athletic "stars" who promote this ideal, from James Bond to the the latest MTV video. It seems like such a fun, pleasurable life, but we only see the surface veneer, not the broken hearts and relationships that also occur. If we envy these people, imagining that we are in their place, we are in effect declaring our dissatisfaction with our life and God's commands. The antidote is to "continue in the fear of the Lord" (verse 17) and to remember that "surely there is a future" (verse 18) for you. If we fear God and realize He has a better plan for our lives, then we will understand how "the beautiful people" really are missing out if they are missing God. And then we can be comforted in knowing that there is a greater reward awaiting us in heaven.
Lord, help me to have Your perspective on the world.