Proverbs 24:1-2 — Wise Saying #20

READ THIS: Proverbs 24:1-2, Wise Saying #20

1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; 2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

We've heard this message a few times now, right (check out Wise Saying #15 if you need to refresh your memory!)? It's a pretty clear one: "don't envy the wicked!" Envy is a word to describe the feeling on discontent or resentfulness we can have when we look at the possessions or qualities that someone else has. Last time, we learned that it is not wise to envy the wicked because of the future of the wise, which looks like life with Jesus forever, is MUCH nicer than the future for the wicked. But what does this wise saying teach us?

This time, the reason we are given is that the wicked lead themselves AND their company (a fancy word for friends) down a path of violence and trouble. We all know and have experienced times where our company has led us down good paths and bad ones. So, if wicked people lead toward violence, and wise and righteous people are the opposite of wicked people, what path do the wise and righteous lead us down? They lead us toward the path of peace!

Philippians 4 talks ALL about this... where envy is a state of being discontent with what we have, Paul talks about having a certain peace (Philippians 4:7) and contentment (v. 12-13) that comes directly from Jesus. The truth is that the best company to have around us is Jesus Himself, right? And He offers us that company through the power of the Holy Spirit! But we can also surround ourselves with other believers who share that same Spirit, and they can help us go down the path of peace rather than violence.

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Why do you think envy often starts with a feeling of being discontent with what we have? How can you grow to be more content with the things you have in life?

2. What type of company do you offer? Do you lead people down the path of peace or the path of violence?

TRY THIS:
 
Take some time to read (or reread) Philippians 4 today! If you were in our summer Bible Studies this summer, this should look very familiar...

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 17, 2023 at 6:02 AM

    I think that every time we take our eyes off of Jesus, satan can stealthily sneak in and rob us of our peace . That seed of discontent grows-like weeds grow in a garden—so we have to weed them out!
    Keep our eyes on Jesus!

    ReplyDelete

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