Dennis Abernathy

In Proverbs 23:17 we read: “Do not envy sinners but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.” This verse is not hard to understand. We can all appreciate how people might be tempted to envy sinners who live what is sometimes called “the good life.” They have no interest in attaining the spiritual goals set by God. They have little or no regard for His divine standards, nor do they have respect for God’s people. But it cannot be denied that some sinful people do now seem to, as we sometimes say, “have it all!” They are enjoying the “pleasures of sin for a season” but such pleasures are fleeting. (Heb. 11: 25). Psalms 37: 1 says, “Don’t worry or fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious of the works of iniquity.” The same thing is stated in Proverbs 24: 19-20.

But the next verse, Proverbs 23: 18 reminds us why we shouldn’t envy their lives. It says: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” What is that saying? It is saying people who live godly lives will surely have God’s future blessings---and it is also reminding us that a time is coming when all the hopes and dreams of people living sinful and wicked lives will be “cut off!” In summation then, the prosperity of the wicked is superficial and temporary and those who trust in God may be certain that, finally, they will be the ones who will be blessed.

You may be sure that the righteous life is the highest quality of life to live. The wicked sinful life hurts the one who lives it and others as well. It will eventually self-destruct, but the righteous life is a blessing in this world, it is a blessing to those nearby, and it will be rewarded in the world to come. So, what are we to do? Focus on God and on doing good! Busy yourself with God’s work on earth. Do what you can to prevent evil but commit your ways to God. Trust in Him for He will judge evil and wickedness in His own time.

My friend don’t let the glitter of sin blind you to the fact that there is a hereafter, and the choices we make in this life determine our salvation or condemnation in the life to come. Therefore, “exercise yourself toward godliness…which is “profitable…having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4: 8). Think on these things.