Drawn to Evil

What a struggle we must overcome. Just up the road is that neighborhood, and we might think...
“I wish we could afford that kind of property. It would be great to get to know those people. Perhaps they could provide some good contacts for my business. I’ll bet we could get our kids on their ball team, one of the best in the area.”

Or perhaps we think…
“I don’t know why they have such a large house with only two kids. They are no better than my family. In fact, I know that they have a rather ungodly lifestyle.”

Or perhaps we think…
“I know for a fact that he is unethical in his business dealings. He may not break the law, but he treats his employees harshly. He puts on a glad face for his clients, but then he talks about them behind their backs.”

Those are all made up thoughts, but not unrealistic in the way we may sometimes look at others.

It may be tempting to look at folks around us and wish we had what they had: possessions, position, lifestyle, etc. It may be tempting to wish we could rub elbows with those who appear to be important. Yet, to what end?

Do not be envious of evil men,

Nor desire to be with them;

For their minds devise violence,

And their lips talk of trouble.

--Proverbs 24:1-2

Now, I am not suggesting that anyone in particular is evil. Success is not equivalent to evil. Yet, we may become envious of others without knowing their character.

It is also important not to read this proverb as a means of defining evil people. What I mean is that we might think that we can evaluate whether a person is evil on the basis of whether we know them to ‘devise violence’ or know that their ‘lips talk of trouble.’

The proverb was not written as a means of defining evil. Rather, it is meant to illuminate the way of evil people. (Proverbs 2 describes the evil man as one who leaves the paths of uprightness.) The reality is that an evil person will ‘devise violence’ and will ‘talk of trouble.’ That is the nature of an evil person.

What we need to consider is whether that is the kind of person that we should desire to be like or desire to be with?

In our culture we are careful to not be judgmental. We are careful not to be critical of the choices of others. We like to get along. Yet, there is such a thing as an evil person and that person is described by God in a certain way. Have you ever thought about God’s view of those who are evil?

For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD;

But He is intimate with the upright.

—Proverbs 3:32

Whenever you envy an evil person and desire to be with him, your desire is to embrace something that is an abomination to God, that is, something that is repulsive to God. Is that the kind of person you really want to desire and embrace???

Let’s resolve to keep our mind and heart focused on the righteousness of God.

Mark Stinnett

May 1, 2022