(Prov 24:19,20 GNB) Don’t let evil people worry you; don’t be envious of them. A wicked person has no future—nothing to look forward to.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 29th Saying: an Admonition on Envy of Evil Ones. This is not the first time Solomon has told us not to envy evil people. He repeats himself over and over again and I believe it is because we need to hear it. Paul said, “I don’t mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so” (Phil 3:1). Another translation reads, “For you it is safe.” My mother never got tired of telling me the same things over and over again. Why? Because for me is was safe to hear. I needed it. It’s the repetitious information that we receive that truly gets ingrained in our spirit. And make no mistake, if the Father cares enough to have his authors repeat something in scripture, then it is something we need to hear. With the 15th Saying, Solomon said, “Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.” With the 22nd Saying Solomon said, “Don’t be envious of evil people, and don’t try to make friends with them.” And today he tells us again not to envy those who are living displeasing to God.
I believe the context here is important. In yesterday message (from the preceding two verses) Solomon told us not to be glad when our enemies encounter disaster and not to rejoice when they stumble. As a believer I told you that our passion for God is exemplified in our compassion for man. If we walk in love, then the Godly thing to do when our enemies are reaping a bad harvest on the bad seed sown, is to earnestly pray and intercede for them. But on the heels of that message Solomon, once again, reminds us that we should never envy the wicked.
Don’t underestimate the power of modeling. Whether your model yourself after your mentor, pastor, natural or spiritual parents, etc., tapping into the power of modeling can have a great impact on your life. However, this impact can be positive OR negative; which is why you must choose the people whom you model yourself after carefully. If you allow yourself to envy the wicked, then you will (consciously or subconsciously) begin to pattern yourself after their ways. Have compassion for the wicked, but never, and I repeat “never,” desire to be like them. Having compassion for them is one thing, but allowing yourself to actually envy their lifestyle is something else altogether. In God’s eyes, they are not worthy of emulation.
So what does this mean to you today? While the wicked are not worthy of emulation, there are many who are. When picking someone to model/pattern yourself after consider:
1. Their lifestyle: Is this a person of integrity? Is their lifestyle consistent with the values they claim to have?
2. Their character: Is this someone who’s character exemplifies what you want to become? Is this someone who can show you “What Right Looks Like”?
3. Their accomplishments: Is this someone who already is where you want to be? Is he or she already operating at the level that you want to operate?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for all the warning and instruction You give me in Your Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through others. You continue to warn me in order to help protect me from unnecessary mistakes. I receive this Word in my heart and I declare, by faith, that I will never envy nor pattern myself after the unrighteous. I seek Godly examples of Your goodness in the earth and I pattern myself after them. I allow the mentoring relationships You bless me to have to help develop me into the person You have destined and desire for me to become. I thank You for giving me favor to have access to people whose experience far exceeds my own and I will learn from that experience and apply it to my life and living. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
