Jealous for God
Proverbs 23:17 (ESV)
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the time.
Have you ever wondered how someone is living the good life even though they aren’t a Christian? They pile up fame and fortune, but even though they never give glory to God, it seems as though God is blessing them. While these people might be receiving riches of the world, it’s good to remind ourselves that we don’t have to envy them because they are not receiving the riches of God’s grace.
It’s easy to get caught up in the luxurious lifestyle and indulge ourselves. It feels good to look out for ourselves and get wrapped up in selfish desires. That is not what the Bible teaches us. Those who treasure the Lord rather than being envious of sinners have hope for eternity. There is no need to be jealous over anything. Everyone eventually dies, no matter how good our life was. Don’t desire materialistic things, but instead, have our hearts pursue God.
We have to focus on the desires of God, rather than the desires of this world. Fame and fortune will not benefit our eternal home. We have to rely on God for righteous pleasures. Once this life is over, where we spend for an eternity is what really matters. Whether we drive a fancy car or live in a big house, we all end up in one of two places after we die. Let this thought guide our discernment. Let our lives revolve around God and his will. For where your heart is, there your treasure is also, like Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:21.
This week, pray about how you can be zealous for the fear of the Lord rather than envy sinners. Don’t covet what your non-Christian friends have, but instead, pursue God’s heart. Only then will you truly be blessed in your life.