Walking with the Wise #17: How Not to Get Ahead

“Do not envy a man of violence
 

and do not choose any of his ways,
for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
 

but the upright are in His confidence.” 

—Proverbs 3:31-32

Envy is historically considered one of the seven deadly sins. “Envy” is a stronger word than “covet” but both of them denote the same thing—wanting what someone else has. And in today’s passage, we are told not to envy a man of violence, nor are we to choose his ways. Solomon goes on to say how God views such a person. He calls them “devious” and an “abomination” in the sight of the Lord. God minces no words in communicating to us which pathways of life we are to avoid and which we are to choose. One is devastating and the other is a life of blessing.

Why would someone envy a man of violence? I’m not sure about you, but I have been around some angry and violent people in my time, and their lives don’t seem to attract anybody. What would make them attractive? There has to be something about their life that would make violence and deception acceptable practices. Like many things in life, results trump means. And it doesn’t matter what one does as long as it produces the desired result (e.g., getting ahead).

The violent person is also devious, which indicates that he or she has used violent and deceptive means to get ahead in life. Such behavior is wrong and contrary to the life of a child of God. For the child of God, means are just as important as the results. Our lives are to be ones of uprightness and we must reject any and all deceptive, deceitful, or underhanded practices. As Paul wrote,

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God”—2 Corinthians 4:2.

We must lay ourselves on the operating table of God’s Word and be ready for His living and active sword to cut us for His glory, trimming off the cancer of sin and unbelief, and revealing to us the other sick parts of our souls that can only be healed by the Spirit’s machination of grace as provided by His Holy Spirit within His Word.

Do not follow after the violent or devious. Realize that they are but a mist and that God will judge them for all that they have done. They may find worldly success now, but in doing so they have forfeited their souls, which will be proven at the end of time before God’s Great White Throne of Judgment.

“O Lord God, help us to discover our identity in you. Let us not be envious of the wicked, violent or the deceptive of the world that have what the world deems to be successful lives. May we follow the example of our Lord Jesus, humbling ourselves, taking up our crosses, and living lives that are poured out for your glory. May your joy become our strength and may the lives we lead be glorifying in your sight and may many be won to Jesus because of it. Amen.”