INTRODUCTION

The Book of Proverbs provides a great deal of truth using the principles of comparison and contrast. The Lord takes concepts that are presently familiar to men and explains a deeper truth presently understood by the Lord Himself. Man knows that a stone is heavy and that sand is weighty, but the Lord wants man to get a better understanding of the heaviness of a fool’s wrath. Man knows that wrath is cruel and that anger is outrageous, but God wants man to know that envy is more cruel and outrageous than wrath and anger. Is it possible that anger and wrath might demonstrate moments of mercy, while envy will continue to pursue its victim?

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) When Isaac was in the land of the Philistines, they envied his wealth and drove him from their territory (Genesis 26:12-17 [12] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. [13] And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: [14] For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. [15] For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. [16] And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. [17] And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
  See All...). Cain was envious of Abel because God accepted Abel's offering. Envy led him to kill his brother (1 John 3:11-12 [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. [12] Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
  See All...; Genesis 4:3-8 [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. [8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
  See All...).
• In what ways could envy be more dangerous than wrath or anger? What does it mean to be cruel or outrageous? How is the inability to stand before envy more severe?
• How can envy be so severe that man would be unable to stand before it? What are some things that a man might be willing to do to another man if overtaken by envy?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to protect you from the envy of others.
• Ask the Lord to show you the dangers of envy.

HYMN

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners

LTB DEVOTIONS ON FACEBOOK

Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on http://www.facebook.com/kingjamesbibledailydevotions.