Proverbs 23:17 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all day long.”
A child of GOD is to live a life the reveres and honors GOD. Envy takes this away. It robs us of our mental and physical health and therefore hinders our ability to be a faithful and productive servant for the LORD. It keeps us from being the type of spouse, parent, friend, or sibling in Christ we should be. Sin satisfies the flesh, momentarily. It may appear at times that the one living in sin is prosperous and comfortable. Any prospering or comfort that one may experience living in sin is temporary. There is no long-term satisfaction. In fact, the sinner is always searching for more because the flesh loses its ability to satisfy, and we must find something else. Not so for those who live in reverence for the LORD. The satisfaction and comfort GOD fearing individuals possess is not found in the flesh, it is not temporary, but rather eternal. Consider what Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13.
“Not that I speak in respect of want… for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
In whatever state Paul found himself in whether full or hungry, abundance or need, he had learned to be content. How? Through Christ!
I know I can and will prevail because Christ empowers me. Paul’s contentment was not based upon where or what, but who. His joy was focused upon the fact that he had Jesus. If we have GOD and He has us, what is there for us to be jealous about? What is there for us to be envious about?
Envy and jealousy will cause our spiritual and physical lives to rot away, however a sound heart, a healthy content mind will be a source of life to us; here, but most importantly eternally.
Prospering Pathway 
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