What does "do not fret" teach about handling envy towards evildoers? Do not Fret: The Command “Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.” (Psalm 37:1) What “fret” Really Means • Hebrew charah = to burn, grow hot, blaze up in anger or jealousy • Picture a slow internal fire that keeps being poked each time the wicked seem to succeed • Scripture forbids letting that fire start, because it always spreads (Psalm 37:8) Link Between Fretting and Envy • Fretting is the emotional heat; envy is the mental comparison that fuels it • When we watch evildoers “prosper in their way” (Psalm 37:7), comparison invites discontent • The verse binds the two together so we treat them as the same danger Why God Tells Us to Stop the Burn 1. It harms you: “Do not fret—it can only bring harm.” (Psalm 37:8) 2. It distrusts God’s justice: “For the evildoers will be cut off.” (Psalm 37:9) 3. It ignores their future: “A little while, and the wicked will be no more.” (Psalm 37:10) Five Practical Shifts from Psalm 37 1. Trust instead of fret (v.3) – Actively rely on the Lord’s character and timing. 2. Do good instead of sulk (v.3) – Let holy activity replace bitter passivity. 3. Delight in the LORD instead of envying outcomes (v.4) – Satisfaction in Him crowds out jealousy. 4. Commit your way to Him instead of plotting payback (v.5) – Hand over reputation, finances, and future rewards. 5. Be still and wait instead of simmering (v.7) – Rest is an act of faith; agitation is an act of unbelief. Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Proverbs 24:19-20 — “Do not fret because of evildoers… the evil man has no future.” • Psalm 73:3-17 — Asaph’s envy disappears when he “entered the sanctuary” and saw the wicked’s end. • James 3:14-16 — Jealousy opens the door to “disorder and every evil practice.” • Galatians 5:21 — Envy belongs to the works of the flesh that “will not inherit the kingdom.” Living It Out Today • Replace the mental scoreboard with God’s Word—read promises aloud when jealousy sparks. • Celebrate another’s success intentionally; gratitude douses envy’s fire. • Keep eternity in view—present advantage is temporary, divine judgment is certain. • Cultivate contentment: list specific blessings God has already given you. • Surround yourself with believers who speak truth, not fuel resentment. Summing Up “Do not fret” teaches that envy toward evildoers is neither harmless nor inevitable. It is a smoldering distrust of God’s justice and goodness. By choosing trust, obedience, delight, commitment, and restful waiting, believers quench the fire before it harms their souls and honor the Lord who will unfailingly set all accounts right. |
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