| It is not the “evildoers” who cause us to fret, to blaze up and be incensed. Our text verse says to “fret not thyself.” We cannot blame our fretting on others, no matter what they do or how evil they are; we are personally responsible for it. And God has provided the remedy for it. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” We are not to be incensed, we are not to “fret” over the possessions, the position, the prominence, or the popularity “of evildoers.” Rather, we are to “rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” So “fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked.” Let us, then, not blame our fretting on others or on circumstances. God holds us personally responsible for it. “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil,” for “an angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” On the other hand, “he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly,” and “he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.” |
