Time flies, even when you aren't having fun

Last night, I posted a Bible verse on Facebook.  I don't normally do that, because I'm one of those people.  You know, those people. I like to talk about the verse and pick it apart and ask questions about it.  Here it is:

Proverbs 23:17

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

What really stuck me wasn't the second part.  We can read about fearing the LORD all over the Bible.  What really caught me, and got me thinking was the first part.  Do I envy sinners? I realized that I have in the past.  Not recently.  But I have.  And if you're honest, so have you.

"I wish I wasn't a Christian, just for one night, so I could go get drunk right now and forget about this mess."

"I wish I could just tell ____ off, let him/her know what I really think about them."

"I wish I could..."

Be honest.  You've said that stuff.  Maybe not what I wrote, or maybe not even out loud.  But we've all envied sinners.  That's why God's word says not to do it.  What should we do instead?  “Continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.”  What does that mean?   Let's see:

 Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.   His 

praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Deuteronomy 10:12

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Luke 12:5

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Just some food for thought...