Your Hope and Expectation
"Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is a latter end [future and reward] and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off."
These few words from Proverbs 23:17-18 are powerful, in that they communicate three key areas we can focus on that will lead us and keep us on the path of obedience - including in our finances which we will concentrate on here, as well as provide confidence and encouragement.
Let not your heart envy sinners - we're exposed to faulty ideals from TV, movies, performances, books and music, promoting extravagance and frequently taking evil or unscrupulous methods to obtain these things. This can promote a greed for a lifestyle that cannot be obtained.
Beyond entertainment portrayals, people also get roped into trying to keep up with and impress those around them. What is unseen is the stress and hardship those others have trying to pay their bills... due to those persons trying to keep up with those around them. You may see nice things a person has and desire those items or their lifestyle, but you may not want to trade places with them if you could see their bills and their debt.
Continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord - in April's post we covered the healthy fear of the Lord, which is to have reverence for Him above all other things and people. We are to fear the Lord more than fearing man over what he will think and trying to gain his approval.
In doing so, we'll regard what God's Word says about honoring Him with our tithes and offerings, spending less than we make, keeping out of debt and being generous towards others above trying to emulate sinners that are on a self-destructing path.
Here is a simple picture of what that looks like:
Your hope and expectation shall not be cut off - this is the inspired Word of God, delivering to you His answer personally and lovingly, that something as intimate and priceless as your precious hopes and expectations will be fulfilled.
He assures you in this because it is conditional, knowing that you have guarded your heart to not envy the sinner and his way, and that you've drawn close to and reverenced Him with obedience. Therefore He knows that your hopes and expectations line up with His will and He will move all mountains and align all circumstances to make it so.
Lastly, take with you this verse from Isaiah 40:31, sharing clearly where our hope is to be and what we shall receive from it - "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint."
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
