Saying Fifteen

Proverbs 23:17-18

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

Stop longing for a glittery hell.

As Jenna switches off her camera for the day, she feels her smile switch off as well. The six gorgeous faces around her seem to lose their bright personalities, and they become long, even distant. One or two say goodbye, but most just sigh on their way out of the door.

‘At least my four-and-a-half-million subscribers love me’ is the thought that comforts her as she snuggles down next to her cats and signs into Netflix. ‘The twelve thousand of them that attended the livestream, anyway’. In a state of chronic distraction, the host of the Happily Ever Me podcast makes it through the evening without crying.

One of the problems with a sinful life is that, to onlooking sinners like you and I, it can seem rather fun. Young women who are contemplating a grounded, family-oriented life, for example, may find themselves bedazzled by the Jennas of this world. Young men may daydream fondly about a life without biblical restrictions, in which fornication and drunkenness are commonplace. They know they are not allowed to do these things, but if it wasn’t for the small matter of the existence of God, then they sure would love to.

Such people respond to moments of peer pressure with “I can’t; I’m a Christian.” However, if they were soundly immersed in the ways of wisdom, they would say “I won’t; I’m a Christian.”

The difference between these two approaches comes down to the relative emphasis of Christianity in the individual’s life. In the former, it is a part of their life — something they do on Sunday (and a number of things they don’t do during the week). In the latter, it is their life: Christ pervades everything from the morning coffee on Tuesday to the stubbed toe on Saturday.

To the true Christian, the existence of God is not just another fact about our universe — as if to say: ‘our universe has gravity, photons, and… oh yes, also a God who created it.’ This framing acknowledges God as creator, but relegates him to a part of the universe — the first part, to be precise. It takes a subtle, but significant mental switch to appreciate that every breath you take, every thought you think, and every combustion within the cylinders of your Hilux presupposes the triune God who created all things and continues to speak it into existence. Even your speech is made of speech. God’s word is the foundational stuff of the universe.

This being the case, where do you get off saying “I can’t; I’m a Christian”? Do you think God structured the moral fabric of the world so poorly that sinning is sometimes actually a better option, if only it wasn’t ‘against the rules’? (Consider yourself lucky I didn’t add an extra question mark).

As v18 points out, a believer’s future hope is guaranteed; God will bless the righteous because he cannot lie. On the other hand, a sinner’s hope will be cut off, likely even before they die. In the case of Jenna, it is every night when she feels alone. There is no reason, therefore, to envy the lives of sinners. They really don’t have it better. Consider Paul’s famous encouragements:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

The unbelieving heart cannot comprehend why a Christian man would limit himself to one woman for life; why a Christian woman would douse her career potential in family and child rearing; why both would choose painful martyrdom over the loss of Christ’s peace. Christians feel instinctively that, without that peace, life is no longer worth living, and hell is preferable to heaven. Allow me, therefore, to state this again, even more plainly: sinners absolutely do not have it better.

Finally, note that the proverb instructs the heart, not the head, to guard against the envying of sinners. This is because, as we have seen, it is an easy matter to mentally assent to God’s commandments, and perhaps even agree that they offer a better way to live; but it is much more difficult to believe in that way of life with your heart. The Apostle John writes:

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

The remedy to an envying heart is given in the second part of v17 — “be zealous for the fear of Yahweh all the day.” The reason why this is the remedy, is because fear — or, deeply reverent awe — is a gut-response that cuts past the mind. It is impossible to fear only in your mind, without your heart getting in on the action.

Fear God, therefore, and remember that he makes you lie down in the greenest of pastures (Psa 23:2) - even greener, would you believe it, than the grass on the other side of the fence.

Scriptures for Comparison

Proverbs 24:19-20

Psalm 37:1-2

Jeremiah 12:1-2

Psalm 73:3-5, 16-17

Job 21:7-13

Luke 16:25

Proverbs 1:7

Hebrews 11:6