Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long. I. THE PRESCRIBED COURSE OF THE BELIEVER "Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long." We must be in the fear of the Lord before we can remain in it. The fear is for all the day, and for every clay. Some have a religion of show, others a religion of spasms. Ours must never be a religion that is periodic in its flow, like certain intermittent springs. Beware of the godliness which varies with the calendar. Note the details which are comprised in this exhortation. Remember not merely to associate religion with the routine of life, but also with special occasions. There are excellent reasons for being in the fear of the Lord all the day long. He sees us all the day long. Sin is equally evil all the day long. You always belong to Christ. You can never tell when or how Satan will attack you. Your Lord may come at any hour. II. THE PROBABLE INTERRUPTION. It has happened to godly men in all ages to see the wicked prosper, and they have been staggered by the sight. There is no real cause for envying the wicked; and envying them will do you serious harm. Envy helps in no way, and hinders in many ways. III. THE HELPFUL CONSIDERATION. 1. There is an end of this life. 2. There is an end of the worldling's prosperity. 3. God has an end in your present trouble and exercise. 4. There will be no failure to your expectation. The promise of God is in itself a possession, and our expectation of it is in itself an enjoyment. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.WEB: Don't let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long. |
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