Proverbs 23:17-18

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But in the fear of the Lord continue all day long For surely there is a hereafter And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

The world has many things that can distract or entice us away from our walk with the Lord, one being the pursuit of riches which is mentioned in this chapter in verses four and five.  God commands us in today’s passage to not let our heart become envious of those who have pursued the temporal things that the world has to offer.  Instead, we are to keep our heart focused on God at all times. It is a continual choice and one that must be fought for, because the enemy is always looking for ways to divide our heart to knock us off course.

Verse 18 provides a reminder for us, giving us the “why” of the command in verse 17.  We are eternal beings, and the blessed hope we have in Christ cannot be taken away (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Resting in that knowledge should encourage and motivate us to continue in the fear of the Lord all day long.

Pastor Jeff Mericle