READ:
PSALM 37:1-2
One sin
that has frequently led Christians into trouble is envy. Envy is a feeling of
dissatisfaction or discontent with oneself because of somebody else’s good
fortune or success. Envy is sin because it is a mark of absence of love.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:4, it is impossible to envy someone you truly
love. Charity is active love. If you do not have love, it follows that you are
not a child of God whos other name is Love. Have the progress of others around
you provoked you to envy? Have you been seriously craving to have what your
colleagues have? Watch it lest you are led into a trap.
According to today’s reading we are warned never to envy sinners. No matter how financially, materially, intellectually or socially successful they may be, evil doers are not to be envied. They are being fattened for the slaughter slab (Psalm 73:1-19). Those who envy them may end up abruptly like them. Proverbs 3:31-33 tells us God has placed a curse on the house of sinners. The presence of God’s curse or blessing in a man’s life is what determines his fate. According to Numbers 23:23, nobody can curse the one God has blessed. It also follows that nobody can bless the one God has cursed. That does not stop people from verbalising their blessing on the cursed. It also does not mean that they cannot amass wealth and other material blessings. It simply means that any blessing that comes to their house is automatically cursed.
Some believers regularly envy fellow believers who appear to be making more progress. This is wrong. This does not mean that you cannot admire good things in your brother’s life. But to wish that the promotion your brother just received come to you instead is envy. Envy is a type of robbery. When present in a man, before long the person will take steps towards either stealing the object of envy or destroying it, so that neither he nor the true owner benefits from it. Envy is destructive. Why are you envying your brother? Whatever he has, God can give you even more. Are your colleagues enjoying certain opportunities you do not have access to? Do not envy them. Your own will come. Wait on God for your time. Rejoice with others over their progress. Yours will come soon.
According to today’s reading we are warned never to envy sinners. No matter how financially, materially, intellectually or socially successful they may be, evil doers are not to be envied. They are being fattened for the slaughter slab (Psalm 73:1-19). Those who envy them may end up abruptly like them. Proverbs 3:31-33 tells us God has placed a curse on the house of sinners. The presence of God’s curse or blessing in a man’s life is what determines his fate. According to Numbers 23:23, nobody can curse the one God has blessed. It also follows that nobody can bless the one God has cursed. That does not stop people from verbalising their blessing on the cursed. It also does not mean that they cannot amass wealth and other material blessings. It simply means that any blessing that comes to their house is automatically cursed.
Some believers regularly envy fellow believers who appear to be making more progress. This is wrong. This does not mean that you cannot admire good things in your brother’s life. But to wish that the promotion your brother just received come to you instead is envy. Envy is a type of robbery. When present in a man, before long the person will take steps towards either stealing the object of envy or destroying it, so that neither he nor the true owner benefits from it. Envy is destructive. Why are you envying your brother? Whatever he has, God can give you even more. Are your colleagues enjoying certain opportunities you do not have access to? Do not envy them. Your own will come. Wait on God for your time. Rejoice with others over their progress. Yours will come soon.
MEMORIZE : PROVERBS 3 :31 –Envy you not the oppressor and choose
none of his ways.
