Do Not Envy the Godless
As we close out a week of “do nots” in Proverbs 3, we finish with v31 and 32 which read: “Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.”
One of the difficult things we can face as Christians is seeing ungodly people flourish. When the godless get rich and claim that they are ‘blessed’, we can get frustrated. When the godless live seemingly easy and painless lives, we can look at our lives of radical surrender and selflessness and wonder if we got it all wrong.
One of the great Bible passages with this theme is Psalm 73, where Asaph says this: “As for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills… They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.” (Psalm 73:2-4, 11-13 NIV11)
Choosing Godly Paths
Do you relate? You try to live a godly, pure and innocent life but all around you are godless and arrogant people gaining more and more success and accolades. You think to yourself here I am struggling along – maybe I shouldn’t have become a person of God, maybe their way is better…
If you’ve felt that way, you’re in good company with Asaph! And so listen to some later words of his in the same Psalm: “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.” (Psalm 73:16–18 NIV11)
People may have a lot here on earth, but if their final destiny is apart from God – that is an awful place to be.
So Solomon’s words are right. Do not envy the violent of choose any of their ways. You see, violent and ungodly ways ultimately lead you to pain. Godly ways ultimately lead you to peace. The tricky part is holding onto that now, when things seem to be reversed.
Endure with Joy
Imagine if Jesus had envied the godless! Imagine if Paul or Peter had followed the ways of the godless! But they didn’t. In fact Hebrews says this about Jesus: it was “for the joy set before him he endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2). He didn’t envy those who weren’t on a cross. He endured the cross because he knew there was joy awaiting Him in His Father’s presence on the other side.
Are you envying those around you who have more, do more, get more – even though they despise God? Friend, for the joy set before you, endure this cross. Endure through this time of having less. Endure this time of difficulty and hardship. Be gloriously satisfied in Jesus alone, and don’t envy the wicked. They will be tossed aside soon enough, but we who stayed firm in joyful faith to the end will be saved.
