Do Not Envy

Psalm 37:1-7-A Psalm of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Fret-Other words to define it…Worry, Fuss, Agonize, Trouble, Bother, Upset, Hassle.

Envious-Other words to define it….Jealous, Resentful, Spiteful, Grudging, Begrudging, Green with envy

What happens to us so many times is we look around at other people and they are not living right, they are rude, selfish, and disobedient to God and to the laws of this Country but they are being successful, being prosperous!

They do not seem to struggling at all!

They get the job promotions, they drive newer cars, and they live in nicer homes, they go on better vacations and from the outside looking in, they are living the dream life!

If they do get in trouble with the law, they get a slap on the wrist, but if it was us who was doing those things and we got caught, they would throw us under the jail!

You can’t help looking at these people with their big salaries, 2 to 3 story homes, pools, and boats, and a different car to drive every week, if they wanted too, and not be a little jealous, a little envious!!

And it can begin to upset you, to bother you, that there are so many people out there, that don’t have a care in the world, and here you are, trying to live right and do right and all you got is trouble and heartache!

It’s easy to worry about or focus on, what others have got and how they got it, that we forget what we have, or what we will have!

The one thing that aggravates us is, deep down inside of us, we secretly wished we could be doing what they are doing and getting away with it…..(Prodigal son’s brother…. Luke 15:30-But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'

He didn’t know that, but that’s what he wanted to do, if he left home.

That’s what really upsets us, that’s what really aggravates us, we think they are getting away with something, something we wished we were doing!

Corrie Ten Boom said, "Look around and you'll be distressed. Look within, and you'll be depressed. Look to the Lord, and you’ll be at rest."

Verse 2- For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

The reason we don’t need to get upset or fret about what we think people are getting away with, or not being punished for!

It may seem that they are getting blessed and we are being cursed!

We have to remember that…What God has in store for the Christian is different than what He has in store for the non-believer!

The same fire that can warm you, can also burn you!!

And for some, they may be doing well in this life, and not do well in the next life!!

The rich man and Lazarus-He had everything in this life, but only had his memories in the next life, he had comfort in this life and pain and suffering in the next life!

There is a place called hell, a place that the Bible describes as Mark 9:44-where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

What does that mean?

Just like the burning bush that Moses saw, it was burning, but it didn’t burn up, it didn’t dissolve, it didn’t disintergrate!

That means people will burn but they won’t burn up!

There won’t be any relief from the pain in suffering!

When someone is suffering and they pass away, people will say, “Well, at least they are at rest!”

But when people wind up in hell, there is dying but no death…No escape!

So don’t be jealous of people here on earth, yes, they may be doing good here, but what about when this life is over, how are they going to do in eternity?

Nice things, whether it be clothes, cars or houses, trinkets that we gather, riches that we accumulate, land that we purchase, trophies and awards that we are awarded, they are all temporary!

The only thing that matters, when it’s all said and done….Is where will you spend eternity?