Psalm 73:2-3 “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (NIV)
Psalm 73 is written by Asaph who was the leader of one of David’s Levetical choirs so he was a man close to David in leading the national worship of Almighty God. Two themes emerge from Psalm 73 and both are for our modern age: (1) the wicked do not respect or reverence God, and, in fact, view God as irrelevant in their lives and yet they prosper (Psalm 73:11), and (2) it is easy for the God seeker to grow “wobbly” on the Lord if they forget that our lives here on this earth are merely temporary, and do not compare to the glory that will follow (Psalm 73:24).
Our devotional text points out well both of these themes and demonstrates the Evil One’s bait that all is well in this world when we know by truth, experience, and result that all is not quite right in this world, and in fact we live in a broken world. The Christian must always hold to the truth about the Devil’s lie that all is right with the world which is stated in 1 John 2:17: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Let us always remember we persevere in our faith!
The wicked may prosper in this world, but this world is not all that there is. The Apostle Paul puts a point to it in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain”. The investments of a lifetime into this world are gone to ashes the minute we enter death, while those investments we pour into serving Christ are not in vain and carry forward eternally.
Those of us in Christ must never forget the proposition of Jesus Christ spoken in Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Everything done in the spirit and humility of Christ will never be taken away from us, and we must not be confused by Satan on this point. God’s promise is so much sweeter than the world’s riches because it carries with it our heavenly reward! Jim Elliot said it best to me when contemplating the true meaning of Psalm 73: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to obtain what he cannot lose.” Aspah came to a realization of God’s bottom-line when he says in Psalm 73:28 “But as for me, it is good to be near God.”
FATHER KEEP ME IN MY RIGHT MIND TO NEVER FORGET THAT THIS WORLD AND ITS DESIRES PASS AWAY, BUT THE MAN WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER. AMEN!
Article written by Mike White from the Summit church of Christ, Cold Spring KY
I does help to remember that life on earth is temporary. I know if I stay close to God my life is so much better and easier to handle when something is not quite right. Yes, Thank you for sharing.
My life here on earth is merely temporary!
thanks for sharing!