“Do Not Let Your Heart Envy Sinners”

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Christians are not to be envious of anyone since “envying” is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Yet it is particularly important that we not envy those who live their lives in such a way that is contrary to the will of God. Solomon gave a clear warning: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always” (Proverbs 23:17).

Why did Solomon have to explicitly state that God’s people were not to be envious of those who were not of His people? Sadly it is because it is common for the righteous to envy the unrighteous. Notice the words of the psalmist: “For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3).

Often those who are wicked will prosper in this life while the righteous do not always enjoy the level of prosperity that the wicked do. We have all witnessed this. The wise man noticed it as well: “I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness” (Ecclesiastes 7:15). But despite this, Solomon made it clear that it was still better for the righteous than for the wicked: “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God” (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13).

Lest we might be tempted to envy sinners, let us be reminded of the reasons why it is better to “live in the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 23:17) than to seek enjoyment and prosperity in the way of wickedness.

  • The pleasures of sin are passing – The Scriptures do not try to hide the fact that one may derive some pleasure from sin. However, whatever pleasure one may experience from sin will not last. By faith Moses was willing to give up “the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). We should not envy sinners because the sin they enjoy now will not always be able to satisfy them.
  • The riches of life are temporary – Those who are wicked might enjoy the riches of this life, but Paul told Timothy to remind the rich that it was foolish to “fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Timothy 6:17). Jesus reminded His followers that the riches of life can be destroyed or stolen (Matthew 6:19). Even if one keeps his wealth until death, he must then leave it to someone else (Psalm 49:10). We should not envy sinners because whatever wealth they might gain now will one day be gone.
  • The wages of sin is death – Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is what one deserves for his sin. The death that Paul referred to is not physical death, but the death that stands in contrast to the “eternal life” mentioned in the second part of this verse. The punishment that one receives for his sin is “eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus described it as “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). We should not envy sinners because they are headed for eternal damnation.
  • Those who fear and obey God will be rewarded – In contrast to the “wages of sin,” Paul said that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). However, it is important to remember that eternal life is a “free gift” because it is undeserved, not because it is unconditional. Peter said, “In every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:35). Our purpose in life is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). If we do this, we will be rewarded. Jesus is “to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). We should not envy sinners because we can look forward to a reward in heaven that is far greater than anything that one might hope to gain in this life.

When you see the wicked prosper, do not envy them. Do not abandon the Lord for a vain pursuit of the things of this life. Instead, “live in the fear of the Lord always” (Proverbs 23:17). Remember the words of the wise man: “I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly” (Ecclesiastes 8:12).


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