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Being envious or jealous of anyone for any reason is one of God’s top ten dislikes. God identified that mankind should not covet in the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:17). “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” The Psalmist also identified that, as a result of that jealousy of the prosperity of the wicked, he was on a slippery slope away from God.

Jealousy, mixed with our human nature, causes us to become angry, self-centred, and bitter. Worse still, these thoughts of the heart / mind, if not checked, can result in violence, aggression, stealing or other acts against our fellowman.

The irony is, as the Psalmist went on to say, that it sometimes appears that those NOT following God do ‘prosper in the world’ and ‘increase in riches’ (Vs 12). Worse still, “They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.” (Vs 9). When we hear those things, our own human nature wants us to react, which will place us on that slippery slope. It was only when the Psalmist went into the House of the Lord that he realised short term gain may not result in long term advantage.

The Apostle Peter warned that these things would grow and become more visible in the last days as people scoffed at the Word of God and walked after their own desires. (2 Peter 2:10-12, 3:1-4). This means that our faith must also become stronger and more mature in order to be ready for those times.

2 Peter 3:17-18, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”