Don't Envy The Wicked

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you envy the wicked? No, I pray for them.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we don't need to envy the wicked even if they don't worship the LORD, for their spirits are dead and there is no reward for them.

IV. TEXT:

Proverbs 24:19-20 (Amplified Bible)

24:19 Fret not because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked,

24:20 For there shall be no reward for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 24:19-20 (King James Version)

24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You have taken from me reproach and contempt and have instead given me every perfect gift as my reward here on earth.

VI. TITLE:

Don't envy the wicked

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Authors: Credited generally to King Solomon before his character downfall/decline.

B. Date written: from 931 to 686 B.C.

C. Purpose: To give moral instruction

D. Main Theme: Fear of the LORD

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Don't complain about evil men, don't envy them

"24:19 Fret not because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked,"

Of course, they exist everywhere, these are unbelievers who are conceited fools.

What you do with them? Here are some things to do about these evil men:

1. Tell them to get away from you

Psalms 119:115 (Amplified Bible)

119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

Testimony:

I was once counseled by a drunkard and he wants to be mediate, but you can smell him he's drunk, I just told him in his face, "talk to the hand", "I don't want to talk with you!"

2. Don't pretend to be in harmony with them.

2 Corinthians 6:15 (Amplified Bible)

6:15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

3. Have no fellowship with them. They are darkness and you are light, you have nothing in common.

Ephesians 5:11 (Amplified Bible)

5:11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

4. Avoid them or turn away from them

2 Timothy 3:5 (Amplified Bible)

3:5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

Testimony:

I asked a drunkard, "Are you born again?" right into his face, he said a very safe answer (while drunk) "I am a Christian." and I told him, "no you're not, you're an idolater." And he laughed, and I laughed at him, saying "Don't deceive us with your safe answers."

5. Come out from them - only thing you can do is believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Revelation 18:4 (Amplified Bible)

18:4 I then heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out from her, my people, so that you may not share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues.

How to come out from them?

a. Reprove them, expose them

Ephesians 5:11 (Amplified Bible)

5:11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

b. Don't keep them as your company

1 Corinthians 15:33 (Amplified Bible)

15:33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.

c. Shake the dust from your feet

Matthew 10:14 (Amplified Bible)

10:14 And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.

6. Don't take their counsels, let them alone, and disregard them

Psalms 1:1 (Amplified Bible)

1:1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

Illustration: A drunkard told another drunkard, "come on, let me counsel you and show you the way!" A blind man told another blind, "Come let me guide you on the way!" These are stories that you will laughed harder because you know they will both fall into the ditch.