The Ever-Consuming Nature of Evil - Proverbs 21:10

The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.   
​Proverbs 21:10

Have you ever considered the thoughts and desires of a very wicked man - who seems to truly consider nothing other than himself.  I realize that theologically we all are wicked and we all are consumed by our own selfishness.  Yet God in His mercy has blessed us with societal restraints and parental restraints - and even conscience-driven restraints that keep us from fully manifesting our wickedness.  But there are those who whether by searing their conscience as with a hot iron - or by giving themselves to every wicked impulse of their hearts - have unlocked the depths of wickedness in their hearts like no one else.  They may be the mass murderers or the wicked rulers of a nation - or just someone who seems to not have an ounce of mercy in their being.  Whatever it is - it is truly terrifying to think what it is that brings someone to that level of having their wicked desires rule their thinking and their heart.

The wicked man has a soul that desires evil.  That means he desires it at the level of his mind in his thinking, at the level of his will in how he chooses to live his life, and in his emotions in that he truly delights in evil and in what is contrary to God's Word.  It should be no shock to us then to see that his neighbor finds no favor whatsoever in his eyes.  He has no proclivity to show grace and favor to anyone except himself.  Ultimately his desire is for himself and what he wants.  If it looks like he is showing favor - it is only because that is what will get him what he wants in the end. 

Wisdom realizes that we need to shun evil - and have nothing to do with it.  The reason that this is so is because evil will never be neutral in our lives.  If we give in to it, evil will seek to expand its influence in our hearts and minds - and ultimately will work its ways in our wills.  You cannot choose to do evil and have evil be sequestered to only that area of your life.  Evil will expand - evil will grow - and left undealt with - it will eventually dominate our lives.  This proverb should be sufficient to remind us that this is true.  That the wicked man's appetite for evil will end with there being no favor for anyone or anything except that which will support the expansion of evil in his doings.  Steer clear of evil - reject it - hate it - that is the course of the wise.