There is a distinct difference in how the Lord chooses to deal with individuals. As humans I feel that at different points in our walk with the Lord that we need to be reminded of this truth. Too many times we see the sinner prosper while we sit in sackcloth and ashes praying for the Lord to hear our prayers. We feel like Job; where is the Lord when we need him? Solomon knew and he passed this knowledge onto his son.
"Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways." Proverbs 3:31, Amplified
Solomon's father, David had this same problem. He feared the Lord and wanted to follow Him, however, at every corner it seemed as if he was being persecuted. He wrote, "For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." (Psalm 73:3, NKJV) But David also wrote, "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 37:1, NKJV) The Lord knows our heart and He is constantly reaching out to us to remind us that He has the best planned for us. Though the sinner prospers it is for just a moment, but as we follow the Lord our prosperity will be for an eternity.
"For the perverse are an abomination - extremely disgusting and detestable - to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsels are with the uncompromisingly righteous - those who are upright and in right standing with Him." Proverbs 3:32, Amplified
Now Solomon starts to lay out four reasons why it is important not to follow or be envious of the wicked. First of all the wicked miss out on the counsels of God. We have the blessing of being able to talk to our God and have Him correspond with us. He hears and and cares enough for us to answer our prayers. This communion with the Lord is for those who are not walking in iniquity, but striving to follow God.
"The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed - joyful and favored with blessing - [is] the home of the just and consistently righteous." Proverbs 3:33, Amplified
The Lord wants to bless the righteous. He cannot bless those who are not willing to follow Him and live righteous lives. Think of it like a father wanted to give his son a good gift. The son has obedience issues and needs to understand that he cannot act a certain way, so ground rules are laid out for the young boy. As the boys behavior starts to change, he gets closer to the prize. This is exactly what I am going through with my son right now. My wife and I are trying to potty train him; he knows where he needs to relieve himself, but he chooses not to. So we put up a chart with a goal for him to reach. I can be sympathetic to the Lord on this one. I have been that son who willfully chooses to turn his back on the Lord. I walked through a portion of my life not receiving the blessings of the Lord.
"Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble and the afflicted." Proverbs 3:34, Amplified
I like how Solomon puts this next verse. The Lord gives His undeserved favor to the low, humble and afflicted. We need to understand that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) None of us are deserving of what the Lord has for us. Even James and Peter use this idea in their epistles (James 4:6, I Peter 5:5) Have you ever tried to give something to a proud man. He will just as soon deny anything that you have to give, because he has no need of it. I feel it is not so much that God will not bless the proud than He cannot bless the proud. The proud turn their noses up and are above any charity. But the lowly in spirit will receive any crumb to fill any hole, whether it be hunger or thirst.
"The wise shall inherit glory - all honor and good; but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools." Proverbs 3:35, Amplified
Now Solomon switches it up. He refers to the people of God first in this last verse of the chapter. It is important to be reminded tat the Lord has an inheritance for the wise. The wise are simply those who know that there is a God and choose to follow Him. Nothing but shame is in store for the man who chooses not to follow God, but relies on his own means to get him by.
Though our walk seems hard, dear Christian, realize that glory is on the other side of this life. Whoever said that being a Christian was easy lied through their teeth. Our journey is arduous and full of peeks and valleys. Temporary wealth and honor and glory are not worth giving up out inheritance.
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