Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Proverbs 23:17-18. The writer tells us that we should not envy sinners. And why is that? Well, the reason is that their short sighted.
See, it SEEMS to us in this life that we should try to enjoy our lives as much as possible. We should eat all the best food, live in the nicest house, drive the most expensive car... get the most enjoyment we can out of this life. But this is a mistake.
Our lives are very short, and eternity is very long. We need to be investing our lives in what really matters - not our short term enjoyment of the here and now (though enjoying life isn't itself a sin), but storing up treasures in heaven. How do we do that? By helping others to make it there.
In fact, we learn through both the teachings of Jesus and the lives of the saints that suffering in this lifetime is a good thing. Does that mean we should go out and try to suffer? Of course not. Plenty of suffering will find you. Just make sure you're ready, so that when suffering DOES come, you're able to allow it to make you better, and not bitter.
God, thank You for teaching us not to envy sinners, who don't have the end game in mind.
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