Proverbs 23:17-18
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

A few days ago, Lori and I watched a show about a couple shopping for a vacation home on a beautiful tropical island. Do you ever watch those house hunter programs? The realtor provided them with three amazing houses to consider. And finally, the couple decided on the house of their dreams. I admit—I was a little envious. 

And I also admit—that was my problem, not the husband and wife buying the house. For all I know, they had plans to use it generously. I was envious that we didn’t have a plan to buy an incredible vacation home! 

Here’s the point of today’s proverb: Don’t be jealous; be zealous! Why envy the person who finds ultimate enjoyment in temporal stuff? Why envy the person whose eternal future will be “cut off”?  Don’t be jealous; be zealous for a deeper relationship with God. You don’t have to worry about house hunters. You need to keep your heart following hard after God. He is the only One who provides an eternal future and a hope that “will not be cut off.” 

Father, keep my eyes off the stuff that glitters today and rusts tomorrow. Instead, keep my eyes on the eternal things that can be enjoyed throughout eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.