No Reason to be Envious
“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:3
Psalm 73 was written by Asaph, a prophet and poet appointed by King David to lead the choral services in the temple. Asaph didn’t entitle his psalm, but an appropriate title might be: “Things Are Not Always as They Seem”. There are lots of things that appear one way, but they are really quite different in substance. A common example would be a mirage. When driving down a highway, off in the distance is what appears to be water on the road, but when one reaches that point, it is nothing. It was caused by light rays which bend, known as a refraction from the sun. We have all seen movies where someone is stranded in the desert, is very thirsty, and thinks he sees water up ahead, but it is only a mirage. However, it wasn’t exactly a mirage about which Asaph wrote. His subject was one about which we are all familiar.
He began by saying that God is good to those who love Him and are obedient to Him. However, he recognized that he had to be careful in the way that he carried on his life. It was extremely easy to slip off the straight and narrow. His major hangup was his jealousy of the wicked whenever he saw how prosperous they were. They seemed to never have any problems. Everything in life was easy-peasy for them, at least that is the way that he assumed. They never seemed to have any problems at all, not like himself and many others who tried to live righteously. The pride of the wicked was evident for all to see. Their wealth was at the expense of the poor and oppressed. They thought they could do anything, even if it was against the law, and get away with it. There is nothing that they desired that they could not obtain.
As if all that wasn’t bad enough, they shook their fist at God because they believed that He had no power over them. They cursed Him and bragged about their own achievements as if God had nothing to do with their abilities, health, and intelligence to amass fortunes. They were bullies. God’s people stood off and looked at them, trying to figure them out. They asked, “Doesn’t God see this? Why are they allowed to do what they do, all of this evil, and seem to get away with it?” Asaph asked, “Why do the ungodly prosper, and I have tried so hard to live right and seem to end up with nothing but trouble? It is not fair. I just don’t understand”.
And then Asaph went into the sanctuary of God, and it all became crystal clear. He remembered how much God loved him, staying by his side, and helping him through his troubles. He was convicted of his envy and ignorance. He realized how foolish that he had been to whine and complain about those with whom God would deal in due time. He realized how blessed that he was to have the God of all creation holding his right hand, guiding his steps, counseling him, and one day would bring him into heaven where all would be glory, peace, and joy, and where the wicked will not be there to flaunt their pride. He then knew that God was all that he needed, his portion forever. The wicked would eventually perish along with their wealth. They would discover how far they were from God and His righteousness, but it would be too late for them. One day all of Asaph’s troubles would be over, and he would live with the LORD in glory, but the troubles of the wicked would just be beginning.
I can identify with Asaph. I think that most of us can. We see people raise their fist to God, as if they are daring Him to challenge them. He will one day when they are not looking for it. We watch movies in which we desire to see the “bad” guy get it and cheer when he does, but that is not the attitude that we should have toward the wicked. Jesus told us to “love our enemies” and “to pray for them” (Matthew 5:44). Paul wrote in Romans 12:20-21 to feed our enemy if he is hungry and give him something to drink if he is thirsty. In doing so, we shall heap coals of fire on his head. Who knows that he may come under conviction and obey the gospel. Paul also wrote to “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Don’t be like those who do evil. Stand out from the crowd, thus showing what life in Christ is all about. It is not the task of the believer to criticize the sinner. We are not his or her judge. We must leave that to the Holy Spirit to convict and let God be the Judge.