Posts Tagged ‘spirituality’

Proverbs 7:18 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 7, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 07, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 7:18  Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

Is lust love? Is sex love? Does lust or sex prove love? Is an offer of sex an offer of love?

The truth is – you can love another person without sex as easily as you can have sex without love. Sincere and true love does not lust for personal gratification from another, nor would it consider sex outside marriage for all the guilt, pain, and trouble it brings.

Here are the enticing words of a strange woman, lying words of a whore, damning words of hell and death (Pr 5:5; 7:27; 9:18). These are the words of Potiphar’s wife, Delilah, Jezebel, Cleopatra, and other wicked women. Hate these words! See the lies! Feel the painful consequences (Pr 5:4-5,9-11)! Know the mouth speaking them is a deep ditch (Pr 23:27)! Prepare against her now, for when you hear her words, it will likely be too late.

Such words have destroyed many strong men, for flattering attention from a strange woman is a powerful attraction and deadly device (Pr 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5,21). How can a man resist the affectionate invitation and passionate desire for intimate pleasures coming from a beautiful and confident woman (Pr 6:13-17)? He is powerless before her, as Samson proved (Judges 16:4-21). For every Joseph, there are a thousand Davids.

Young man, this is an invitation to hell! The words may be exciting and gratifying to hear, but they disguise and hide the heinous sin. Solomon knew the horror of these words, and he thought them worse than death (Eccl 7:26). Make this warning dear to your soul, and stay far from her (Pr 7:1-5). Purpose in your heart now to reject and hate her ways. Despise these words and women who speak them. Flee to the mountains! Save yourself!

Consider the lies, for they are many. She says, “Come,” but her heart is not with you (Pr 23:6-8). She has no commitment; she does not truly want you; she is just using you (Pr 6:26). If you go to her, she will take you down to hell in this world and in the world to come. When Potiphar’s wife said, “Lie with me” (Gen 39:7,12), Joseph looked beyond the short-term pleasure to see the long-term consequences; he knew to rebuke her wickedness and then to run from her with no regard for propriety or safety.

She says, “Let us take our fill.” But there is no satisfying fulfillment. Sin never satisfies the soul, especially the soul of the righteous (Eccl 5:10). You will not find the pleasure you imagine. Amnon hated Tamar more than he had loved her, when the much-desired moment was over. Samson woke from tender arms to find darkness and weakness. The goodman eventually returns, and then what shall become of the young man (Pr 7:19-20)? He will find the emptiness of death, hell, and soul destruction (Pr 6:26-33).

She calls it “love.” And she and others like her speak and sing of it constantly. What can possibly be wrong with love? With love this tender and pleasant? With love this mutual and moving? But it is only lust, for love requires truth, righteousness, and commitment (I Cor 13:4-7; Song 8:6-8). Love desires the best for its object, not for itself; and a woman giving her body to you outside marriage is selfishly damning your soul to destruction.

She says, “Until the morning.” Will she love you differently tomorrow? Will tonight’s sin bring tomorrow’s reward? Will the night be without guilt and fear? And what will the morning bring? Peace and joy? No! The pleasures of sin are only for a season (Heb 11:25), and in sexual sins the season is shorter than most. What will morning bring? It will bring guilt, fear, confusion, doubts, insecurity, and frustration. Hate the night!

She says, “Let us solace ourselves with loves.” But there is no solace, no comfort or pleasure; for your guilt-stricken and fear-filled soul will devour you with pain and regret, even if you try to recall her tender embrace, as Samson discovered so painfully. There is no consolation or cheer with the uncertainty and guilt of a strange woman. What solace is there in walking on coals? Or taking fire in your bosom (Pr 6:27-28)?

Young man, she lies! She does not truly want you; she does not love you; she cannot satisfy you; short-term pleasure is hardly pleasure at all; and your soul will punish you far more than any pleasure she gives. You will lose your virtue and boldness, and all you will have for it is guilt, fear, shame, and regret. She lies! It is not love! It is lust and sex without love. She does not even know what love is, let alone have the ability to give it.

Destroy her power by taking this instruction to heart and making it an important rule of your life today (Pr 7:1-3). Make wisdom your favorite woman and constant companion, rather than the strange woman (Pr 7:4-5). Avoid places where she lives and works (Pr 4:15; 5:8; 7:8; Rom 13:14). And run from her at full speed (II Tim 2:22). Be like Joseph and spurn the woman, rather than have God spurn you for choosing the woman!

Young woman, men lie as well. They also can feign love for lust. Good men will pursue you through your father, and they will gladly wait for marriage. Reject any words of “love” until he has promised before many to be your committed husband for life. Many girls have given away what they cannot get back for the simple words, “I love you.”

But he lies! If he will steal this treasure from you before marriage, he is no better than Amnon, and the results will likely be the same (II Sam 13:1-17). He will not love you in the morning, for you will have given away your gift and cheapened yourself. Run to your father, and be safe. Do not hear or speak of love until your father approves marriage.

The Whore of Rome and her harlot daughters invite weak souls with such words, “Come to me, and I will solace you with the pleasures of my beautiful religion.” They decorate their beds with whorish care (Pr 7:16-17), only to seduce and trap vulnerable souls. But those who commit spiritual fornication with them shall be lost in the congregation of the dead and damned in this world and the next (Pr 21:16; II Thess 2:9-12).

Hold fast your profession of faith, making the true church of Christ the only object of your affection, avoiding any compromise toward the Whore’s wicked advances, and earnestly contending against her false doctrines. Be faithful to your glorious bridegroom, the true Lover of your soul, He Who is True and Faithful, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 06:09 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 6, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 6:9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Sleep can be a dangerous thing, if you get too much of it, or if you like it too much. It is especially hazardous for young men, whom Solomon emphasized in writing Proverbs.

When do you get up? How do you get up? The time and manner in which you rise in the morning affects your success or failure in life. Great men get a head start on the day.

They attack every day as an opportunity, rather than dreading it as a punishment. There are other factors also, but love of your bed in the morning will squander your potential.

What a practical book! Those who think the Bible is irrelevant and an old theological dust collector have never read it. Solomon, the wisest and most successful king ever, knew the folly of youth and humanity, so he warned his son and you against loving sleep and sleeping too long (Pr 6:6-11; 10:5; 19:15; 20:13; 21:17; 23:21; 24:30-34).

Young men play hard and sleep hard. Since they have not had the weight of responsibility and burden of producing for a family, they will take every minute they can get under the covers before falling out and stumbling into a day. But they are not the only ones. Some older men think they deserve extra sleep because they have already worked hard in life.

Some women think they can make the day go away by staying in bed under warm covers. Cuddling with blankets helps them procrastinate and fantasize about not working. Instead they have fewer hours, less energy, and more to do when they get up. Young women, who play much of the day in today’s world, cannot imagine why they should ever get up.

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” is credited to Benjamin Franklin, though it was a saying before he was born. Mark Twain, who thought that rising before 9:30 was a terrible evil, ridiculed Ben’s proverb. But God and Solomon had given the inspired rules 3000 years before. An early approach does lead to wisdom (Pr 8:17). And an early approach does lead to wealth (Pr 6:9-11; 20:13; 24:33-34).

Are you tired in the morning? Then go to bed earlier. Sleeping during prime time will not only help you rise in the morning, but it will also save you from the worst that Hollywood offers. Do you not sleep well at night? Then get on a schedule and allow yourself less sleep. All other things being equal, a laboring man will sleep very peacefully (Eccl 5:12).

Is it hard to get up in the morning? Build a habit and routine that is good for you. A strict schedule and routine help most people. Do not use a snooze button on your alarm clock. When it is time to get up, then get up, right then. Immediately take a shower or apply water to your face in some other way. Wake up! Get up! Get dressed! Get going! Life is short, why waste it in bed!  You need a sense of time urgency to attack days (Eccl 9:10)!

The world has conspired against the wisdom here. Daylight saving time provides more time for playing in the evenings and less sunshine for rising in the mornings. If saving daylight is important, why not save it in the morning by moving the clocks back an hour? Men could get a day’s work done before lunch. But men would much rather play late.

The proverb has a definite limit. Night and sleep are part of God’s plan for men. In fact, He does not want you going without pleasant sleep, thinking that success depends mainly on your efforts (Ps 127:1). He expects you to only apply this proverb within reason, for any efforts beyond that are vain and worthless; He wants you to sleep (Ps 127:2)!

Getting up early and not sleeping too long are only part of life. Once you get up, what will you do? God commands you to have a good job and be diligent at it (Rom 12:11; Eph 4:28; I Thess 4:11-12). This is the main intent here so you can follow the example of the industrious ant (Pr 6:6-8)! After work you have your other duties – marriage, children, parents, church, finances, house, neighbors, nation, exercise, and so forth.

There is a better reason to rise early. You can seek the Lord and wisdom then. You are sharper (once fully awake!). There are fewer outside or mental distractions. You will be interrupted less. It puts the priority on God and wisdom. It prepares your soul for the day. And it is Scriptural (Ps 5:3; 55:17; 119:147). Reading your Bible, praying, and meditating before anything else is the way to a successful life (Job 23:12; Ps 19:7-11; 119:103,127).

Spiritual Training 06 December 2012

Posted: December 6, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

(No one is Righteous) 

Romans 3:10-18 What shall we conclude then?  Are we any better?  Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.  As it is written; “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Paul is referring to Psalm 14:1-3.  “There is no one righteous” means “no one is innocent.” Every person is valuable in God’s eyes because God created us in his image and he loves us.  But no one is righteous (that is, no one can earn right standing with God).  Though valuable, we have fallen into sin.  But God through Jesus his Son has redeemed us and others to forgive us if we return to him in faith.

Paul uses these OLD Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God.  Have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I’m not too bad.  I’m a pretty good person”?  Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.

 Lets Bring It Home: Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.  Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings by your words or tone of voice?  Are you bitter toward anyone?  Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you?  In thought, word and deed, you, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God.  We must remember who we are in his sight-alienated sinners.  Don’t deny that your are a sinner, instead, allow your desperate need to point you toward Christ.

 

Proverbs 3:3 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 3:3

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Love and faithfulness are important character qualities.  Both involve actions as well as attitudes.  A loving person not only feels love; he or she also acts loyally and responsibly.  A faithful person not only believes the truth; he or she also works for justice for others.  Thoughts and words are not enough.  Our lives should reveal whether we are truly loving and faithful.  We all should be asking ourselves, do our actions measure up to our attitudes?

Mercy and truth mark perfection. It is wonderful when they meet (Ps 85:10). They lead to favor and good understanding with God and men (Pr 3:4). By neglect and sin they are lost, so they must be carefully guarded and applied. See the comments on Proverbs 16:6.

We cannot literally bind mercy and truth about the neck. They are character traits of wisdom and the Holy Spirit and not subject to string, rope, or chains! The metaphor describes tight attachment to a person’s outward life. Neither can we literally write them upon the table of the heart. Another metaphor describes committing them to our affection and memory. Wise men are dedicated to mercy and truth on the inside and outside.

Mercy and truth appear to be opposites, but it is their combination that makes a man perfect. Mercy is that gentle, forgiving, gracious, and overlooking trait of noble men, who gladly take personal injury rather than fight or hurt someone in their power. Truth is the stubborn commitment to whatever is honest and right, regardless of cost. Together they balance each other gloriously, resulting in the gentle and honest life of a true saint.

Parent, children should be taught to love mercy. It is your duty to teach them the glory of forgiving and overlooking personal offences (Pr 19:11; Matt 5:38-42). Kindness and tenderheartedness should be emphasized. You should teach them to love their enemies, as our Lord and Stephen did (Pr 24:17-18; 25:21-22). Sibling rivalry will create almost daily opportunities for your lessons. Mercy does not tolerate unjustified anger, envy, hatred, malice, railing, whispering, and similar sins. Teach tender compassion toward all men.

Parent, children should be taught to love truth. It is your duty to teach them the final authority of God’s Word and the glory of perfect honesty and integrity in all their dealings. Absolute honesty is a wonderful thing (Pr 12:22; 16:11; 17:7; Rom 12:17). Lying in any form should be punished severely. Truth does not tolerate exaggeration, hypocrisy, lying, slandering, and other related deceptions. It keeps all promises as given.

Mercy and truth are essential components of wisdom. They do not literally forsake men, but the inherent depravity we have from Adam causes us to forsake them! The rule of wisdom here is to love and remember these two pillars of godly conduct in all situations.

The blessed Lord Jesus had the perfect balance of mercy and truth. No man was more compassionate, even to enemies; no man was stricter about the truth, though it cost Him His life. He forgave easily and quickly, yet He is called Faithful and True (Rev 19:11).


 

Spiritual Training 21 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

When Jesus died for the sins of humanity, the curtain was torn open, permitting anyone to enter the holiest of all-God’s presence.  The high priest was no longer required for believers to be forgiven.  By a “new and living way”, believers can go directly to God through faith in Christ.

Lets Bring it home: When was the last time you really went to God to ask forgiveness for your sins.  Remember, you can’t get yourself ready for Christ.  I hear people say that I have to get right before going to Church.  No, that is not the case.  You are ready right now.  God already knew you, even before you was form in your mothers womb.  Go to him now, Pastor Jimmy once said, this is not a Job where qualifications are required for the position.  In Gods house it’s our dis-qualifications that qualifies us for a position in the Kingdom.

Spiritual Training 20 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Part 4

Homosexuality was a widespread in Paul’s day as it is in ours.  Many pagan practices encouraged it.  God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background.  Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22).  Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today-even by some churches.  But society does not set the standard for God’s law.  Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them.  But God does not obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones).  Those desires that violate his laws must be controlled.

Lets Bring it Home: If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them.  Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind.  Don’t underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations.  Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins.  Surrender yourself to the grace and mercy of God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of his freedom and his love.  Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.  If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behavior, seek help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

 

Spiritual Training 16 November 2012

Posted: November 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

When Paul says that men exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of birds, animals, and reptiles, he seems to deliberately state man’s wickedness in the terms used in the Genesis narrative of Adam’s fall (Genesis 1:20-26).

People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal beliefs.  Today, more than ever, we need to be carful about the input we allow to form our beliefs.  With TV, music, movies, and the rest of the media often presenting sinful lifestyles and unwholesome values, we find ourselves constantly bombarded by attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Bible.

Lets Bring it Home: When we worship the creature instead of the Creator, we lose sight of our own identity as those who are higher than the animals-made in the image of God.  Be carful about what you allow to form your opinions.  The Bible is the only standard of truth.  Evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings.

Spiritual Training 15 November 2012

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 

How could intelligent people turn to idolatry?  Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God.  Instead of looking to him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe.  They soon invent “gods “that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees, these gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort.  They may even be misrepresentations of God himself-making God in our image, instead of the reverse.  The common denominator is this-idolaters worship the things God made rather than God himself.

Lets Bring it Home: Is there anything you feel you can’t live without? Is there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacrifice everything to realize? Does God take first place?  Do you worship God or idols of your own making?

Spiritual Training 14 November 2012

Posted: November 14, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 

What kind of God does nature reveal?  Nature shows us a God of might, intelligence, and intricate detail; a God of order and beauty; a God who controls powerful forces.  That is general revelation.  Through special revelation (the Bible and the coming of Jesus), we learn about God’s love and forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life.  God has graciously given us both sources that we might fully believe in him.

Lets Bring it Home: What kind of excuse do we give when we see the order and beauty, and still don’t fully believe in the God who controls powerful forces, and the promise of eternal life?  Why do people still lean towards their own understanding before fully believing in Him.  Are you one of those people who learns about God’s love and forgiveness, but still walk and think in the flesh on issues, before turning them over to God?

Proverbs 14:30 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 14, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Are you in good health? Thriving with robust energy and strength? You have a physical and a spiritual side to your life. You could have a strong physical heart but rot to death from envious emotions in your spirit. King Solomon wrote to protect you from the horrible consequences of envy in your life. Will you let him examine your heart today?

Envy is deadly. It will destroy your soul, body, and life. And it will take you to hell for eternity. But before it takes you to the lake of fire, it will pervert your thinking, torture your mind, ruin your health, consume your body, wreck your reputation, and destroy your life. Hate envy! Do not play with it! Reject any idea that you can allow envy and survive.

Psychosomatic illnesses, those bodily ailments caused by emotional issues, have been formally identified slowly. But Solomon knew about them by inspiration of God 3000 years ago. They are physical maladies caused by mental, emotional, or psychological factors. Of course, an enlightened Christian can easily improve the definition – sin, a spiritual problem of the heart, can affect the body and destroy it from the inside out.

The proverb contrasts life of the flesh to rottenness of bones. Is it dealing with physical health, overall life success with God and men, or a combination of both? Remembering David’s observation that God’s commandments are exceeding broad (Ps 119:96), the proverb teaches a variety of consequences for sin and spiritual problems. A loving heart will make you stronger physically and spiritually, and envy will do the opposite.

A strong physical heart is the life of the flesh, for it pumps a sufficient supply of blood with oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body and efficiently flushes all waste and poisons out as well. As the Bible states, the life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev 17:11). A strong spiritual heart is physically healthful as well, for by love and mercy toward others it soothes the soul and reduces various stresses and chemical releases that harm the body.

Envy and related emotions stress your body by tensing muscles and calling for chemicals from the brain. Your heart rate accelerates, blood pressure climbs, breathing increases, and additional hormones may be secreted. You may become totally focused on the threat – which is only your wicked imagination! You have compromised your physical health. The constant resentment, stressing your mind and body even at night, hardens your spirit.

Consider sin and various kinds of death. Sin brought instant death to Adam and Eve’s affection for God, and it perverted their perfect marriage as well (Gen 2:17; 3:7-8). It also brought physical death to them a few years later (Gen 5:5). And they will suffer forever in the lake of fire, which is the second death, unless Jesus Christ intervenes (Rev 20:11-15). Sin, with envy being one kind, is horribly destructive at several levels. Grasp it!

Envy is horrible. “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Pr 27:4). It is jealous resentment of others, which is devilish and hellish (Jas 3:14-16). It is pride and selfishness gone to seed. It cannot stand the praise or success of others; it rejoices when others fall; it despises their virtues; it labors day and night to put others in an evil light. You cannot escape this terrible master and monster, even in bed!

But who worries about envy today? It is a forgotten and ignored sin. When did you last hear a sermon against it? Does your employee handbook warn about it? Were you asked about it at your last doctor’s visit? Have you heard of a judge ruling against it? How often do attorneys use it as a convicting motive? Envy is a terrible sin, a horrible evil, and a destructive cancer; but few say anything about it or against it. Wise men despise it.

Parent, you must begin when children are young to cure this deadly disease. You must teach children to celebrate the successes of their siblings, praise their accomplishments, grieve over their failures, and pray for their blessings. You must quickly and severely punish any attitude or action that reveals a proud, selfish, or resentful spirit toward others. The second commandment is to love others as yourself, so emphasize this in your home.

Proverbs use many metaphors and figures of speech, which is why they are dark sayings (Pr 1:6; John 16:25). Solomon used body parts to represent other things, as lip and tongue for speech (Pr 12:19) and belly for soul and life (Pr 20:27,30). He made it clear that he could use rottenness of bones as a simple simile for grief and pain, without any direct or literal application to leukemia or other bone and marrow diseases (Pr 12:4).

Therefore, this broad proverb teaches several levels of trouble that are brought on by sin, particularly envy. First, it will ruin your overall success as a godly and wise man. This is the reason for keeping your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23). Second, it will eat at your physical health, due to the corrupting effects of envy in the soul (Pr 17:22). And third, there is God’s promise to ruin your health for sinful living (Ex 15:26; Deut 28:27,35).

Sins of the soul and mind affect the body – psychosomatic illnesses. Amnon lusted so greatly after his half-sister Tamar that it made him physically sick (II Sam 13:2). Craving what he could not have so tormented his soul that he became ill. And envy, grinding the soul of a person day and night, drains vitality from him. If Amnon had feared God and rejected evil, it would have been health to his navel and marrow to his bones (Pr 3:7-8).

An excellent book for the details of psychosomatic illnesses caused by sin is None of These Diseases by Drs. S.I. McMillen and David E. Stern. These doctors explain in easy-to-read chapters the ravaging physical effects of a sinful lifestyle. It is confirming to faith that what the Creator inspired in the Bible is often superior to pills or treatment. How many in mental institutions and hospitals are there due to a spiritual problem – sin?

Consider a merry spirit. Recent studies have shown that people who laugh and enjoy life live longer than those who are morose and negative. But Solomon wrote long ago, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Pr 17:22). He wrote, “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Pr 15:15). Vitality comes from your spirit, not just your diet! And you cannot be merry while envying others!

You may hide your envy from other men – for a while; but backbiting, grudges, hatred, reviling, slander, or whispering will soon expose it. It may consume your health directly through a stress-filled and angry, bitter heart; or it may ruin your body by direct physical judgment from God. Exchange your envy for love (Pr 15:17)! Consider Joshua’s envy in contrast to Moses’ humility and godliness (Num 11:24-30). Which are you like?

You must examine yourself for envy, the horrible cause of problems in soul and body. Many examine their bodies for lumps, blood pressure, cholesterol readings, or other symptoms of deadly diseases, but why not examine your soul for the root cause of greater consequences? And the cause can be taken away easily by godly repentance and confessing your sins to God (Pr 28:13; Job 33:27-28; I John 1:9). You have been warned!

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