How easily do we envy wealthy people? We see their homes and wish we had one like that. We see a BMW drive by and wonder how much it would take to get one. Maybe we observe all the free time that they have to spend in good causes and wish we had a job like that.
Envy is not a new problem.
Asaph wrote about envy in Psalm 73.
He begins the psalm with a statement about God's goodness and provision, but then he contemplates the rich: They have a good life. No problems. Plenty to eat. Lots of fun. No one accuses them of wrong-doing.
Then he looks at his life: My life is miserable. I work hard. I've wasted my life by being good.
But in the midst of the good things he lists about the rich, he lists their sins: arrogance, wickedness, pride, violent, gluttons, scoffers, malevolent, oppressive, God-haters.
How can this be right?
The rich are wicked, but blessed. I'm struggling to do right and have nothing.
Asaph turned to God in His sanctuary to contemplate this.
He realizes that god was against the arrogant rich. They will be swept away in an instant. They are despised by God. There is no hope for them
He realizes that his eternal reward, his relationship with God and God's protection and provision are much better than the wealth of the wicked.
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works" (Psalm 73:2 and 28).
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