Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long (Proverbs 23:17).
Ephesians 2:12 paints for us the dismal state of those who aren’t born again: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” This is the pathetic state of the unregenerate man; he’s without Christ and so he lives in utter hopelessness. Meaning that the unbeliever, in his greatest glory is living a life without purpose; journeying aimlessly in life, with a ticket to no where. This is the reason you must never envy those who haven’t yet known the Lord, irrespective of the seeming riches, influence or power they exude: “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways (James 1:10-1 1).
This scripture refers to those who are “rich” without God! Their riches will fade away. So irrespective of how glamorous they may appear to be, don’t admire them. Don’t wish to be like them or wish for their status in life. Let me remind you that no matter how successful, famous or wealthy a person is, if he or she isn’t born again, the bible says he’s alienated from the life of God.
No wonder David said “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found” (Psalm 3 7:35-36). That’s the life of the man who isn’t born again—he’s here today and gone tomorrow. But for the one who is born again, the Bible says “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (Psalm 37:37). I like that! It means there’s a guaranteed end-result of success, victory, peace, health, joy and prosperity for the child of God.
Best Rhapsodies
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Out the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seet...
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Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (2 Pete...
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For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he... (Proverbs 23:7). Thoughts are pictures of the mind that have constructive or destructive poten...
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And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, And said, 0 Lord God of ... -
A merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Proverbs 17:22). I’ve had the opportunity to observe people...
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Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly (Jonah 2:1). A young lady had been sick for several years and had been gi...