Have you ever taken a look around and thought to yourself that those who aren’t saved seemed to have smooth sailing and that they live without a care in the world; that all seems to be well with them more times than not? Doubt sneaks in and our mind begins to wander and envy moves into our hearts. Don’t be deceived, I have learned things aren’t always as they look. One of Satan’s oldest tricks is deception and until the Lord calls us home or the trump sounds, we will deal with him and his deceptions. Don’t be lured in by the prince of deception, run everything through the grid system of God’s Word.
The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7a) Our scripture tells us to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. When one lives their life in the fear of the Lord, they will not entertain the thought of envying the sinners. When we have a holy reverence for the Lord, our lives will not be filled with stumbling blocks, but our feet will be firm in each step we take. I want you to meditate on these verses that pertain to fearing the Lord.
· 1. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalm 147:11
· 2. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27
· 3. Like as a father that pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Psalm 103:13
· 4. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Psalm.103:11
Knowing the final destination of those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and you being saved knowing your assurance of heaven, I pray that your heart will be filled with a burden for the lost and not envy.
In Psalm 73:2-3 Asaph wrote, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” One will travel a slippery slope when they travel the path of envying the boastful. I suggest that you take time to read Psalm seventy-three, it is wise counsel indeed. It will always be better to learn from the experiences of others than to fall full face in our own foolishness.