Family Legacy for the Long Haul

Proverbs 24:
1. Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

This verse discusses what our attitudes should not be toward evil men and why that is so. Notice that the first exhortation is to not be envious against them. It doesn’t say don’t be envious towards them. To understand the difference, we must understand what envy is. It is not the same as jealousy or covetousness.

Envy “suggests a grudging of another’s possessions and accomplishments in a spiteful or malicious coveting of them.” [Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary]

When we envy the wicked we harbor an element of spite and malice against them. For example, a wicked person may be rich and own a fancy BMW car. We would like a car like that but we can’t afford it and we secretly delight when their car is damaged. We want it but we can’t have it and so we wish that it’s taken away from them also. That’s what malice is. It is to wish evil on someone else, even the wicked. This is what is forbidden.

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:43-44)

Many think this is only a New Testament command, but it was true in the Old Testament, too.

“If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.” (Exodus 23:5)

Now while we should help the wicked (not in committing their wickedness), yet we should not associate with them in a manner where we learn their wicked ways. This is what the last half of verse one says.

Verse two says more than don’t be around them because you will pick up their wicked ways. Yes they plan to do destructive things, but there is a basic principle that follows.

“My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” (Proverbs 1:15-19)

Those who devise destruction for others are really devising their own destruction. They will fall in the pit they dig for others. We live in a moral universe where God is in control. Do not fret about the wicked. God will judge them in His own good time. This is how we are to trust God.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21)

Remember, we ARE in the business of overcoming evil and not letting it pass, but we overcome evil with good. This is what your Family Legacy is all about – overcoming evil with good through multiple generations. In the long run our heirs will ultimately overcome evil with good and this Scripture will become true:

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

The gospel and the word of God through the Holy Spirit are that powerful!