Always Abounding - Spring 2021

have analyzed the Scripture, most
instances that we would label as
jealousy are simply selfishness or
a non-giving spirit. The Bible deals
with this many times but does not
necessarily call it jealousy.
PRINCIPLES DRAWN
The book of Proverbs deals
heavily with wisdom for youth.
Repeatedly, there is an emphasis to
a young person not to be envious
of the wicked. We also see David
mentioning this plight for the
righteous in Psalm 37 and 73.
“Fret not thyself because of
evildoers, neither be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity”
(Psalm 37:1).
“For I was envious at the foolish,
when I saw the prosperity of the
wicked” (Psalm 73:3).
“Envy thou not the oppressor, and
choose none of his ways” (Proverbs
3:31).
“Let not thine heart envy sinners:
but be thou in the fear of the LORD
all the day long” (Proverbs 23:17).
The plea is simple. There will be
a longing in the soul of the believer
to see the prosperity and success
that seems to come from living
wickedly in this temporal world;
however, true peace and blessing
only come from fearing the Lord.
Fear the Lord—not man’s praise.
(Steve Damron is the pastor of Fairhaven Baptist
Church and president of Fairhaven Baptist
College.)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org | 11