“Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD
all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18 (NKJV)
Summarize in a Word: Overcoming Jealousy
Key Principle: God Rewards the Faithful
Key Application: Delight in God
Main point of the Passage: Nobody is immune to Jealousy but those whose
delight is in God shall overcome it.
Illustration: Successful Inmate in prison v/s Successful man
in a free land
Exhortation: Do not be troubled
by sinners, but be assured by God’s faithfulness.
Who is immune to Jealousy? It looks like we are hardwired
especially when we are in desperate want. Jealousy is never a pleasant emotion.
Unfortunately, I have seen many frustrations and anger in several families
because they were jealous of neighbor’s successes.
There is a wisdom of God in this Scripture for us to overcome
Jealousy. It is Zealousness for God. Jealousy is a negative side of emotion,
whereas Zealousness is a positive one. We often drown ourselves in Jealousy
when we lost focus on God and listen to the noise of sinners. We must
take delight in God in all circumstances. It is not merely an escape from the unpleasant emotion of jealousy of others. It is because God rewards the
faithful ones who delight in Him.
Psalmist says that the successes of sinners are temporary, and
they stand on the slippery ground (Ps. 73:18-20). But, certainly, we are not looking
for the destruction of our loved ones even if they succeed sinfully. We want to
be successful too, yet righteously. This Scripture says that God will vindicate
us. He will not let our hope be in vain. Even if we are faithless, He remains
faithful to us (2 Tim 2.13). Isn’t that the ultimate reason why we must delight
in God? What Jealousy destroys, God builds our hope.
What would you prefer: successful inmate in prison for a day or
successful man in a free land for a lifetime? Well, that is the picture of the
sinners and the redeemed. God owns the universe, and He will let us reign with
Him again someday onwards. Do not be troubled by sinners, but be assured by
God’s faithfulness.