September 22, 2021

“But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed…When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.” – Psalm 73:2-3 and 16-17

Have you ever looked at those who are very far from God and thought to yourself, “It sure seems like they are enjoying life and prospering even though they are living in sin!”? And all the while, you are serving God with your whole heart, but you can barely make ends meet. It can be so frustrating to see those who, at best are oblivious to God, and at worst are clearly wicked, enjoying a life full of what appears to be great blessings. They are healthy, they are wealthy, and everything seems to be going their way. If we are living the way God wants us to live, and truly serving him, then why don’t we have all this?! It doesn’t seem fair.

Well, you are not the first follower of God to feel this way. In Psalm 73 the writer shares that he too has fallen into the trap of envying the wicked; and believe me, it is a trap. So, what was it that rescued him and changed his mind? He entered the sanctuary of God, meaning he spent time in God’s presence. When we keep our eyes on the world, we envy the sinner. When we keep our eyes on God, we are overwhelmed by the incredible wealth we have in him. Psalm 84:10 puts it this way, “Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else.” So today, if you find yourself envying those who are outside God’s Kingdom, maybe you need to stop and spend a little more time in God’s presence.

Almighty God and loving Father, set our eyes on You and You alone. Keep us from fixating on the world and envying the wicked. Let us clearly see the incredible wealth we have in You.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon