Love What is Good

“Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.” Proverbs 24:1-2

It’s tempting really; we look at how some people do what they want and get away with it, so we start to think – “Why couldn’t I do the same?” Solomon doesn’t go on to warn us of the terrible things that will happen to us if we start to follow the example of the wicked. Instead, he simply says, “for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk of making trouble.” He doesn’t give us a warning, he gives us a calling. It’s as if he saying, “Violence and trouble is all these people are about. Is that really what you want?”

Oftentimes when we start to envy wicked people, it’s because we’re bored and are, perhaps, craving a thrill. We don’t really want trouble, we just want excitement. But that’s exactly why Solomon warns against such desires, because in the end, we’ll just be doing damage in some way.

The calling then, is to love what is good, and to find joy in preserving the good things of life. Perhaps, if we find ourselves getting bored, it’s because we’ve lost sight of those good things. The challenge, then, is to stop and take some time today and list at least 10 good things that are worth preserving in your life. 10 good things that are worth fighting temptation for. Then, thank God for those things and ask Him to help you make them even better.

By rekindling our love for what is good, we will extinguish those temptations to sink into the wrong.