The Sting of Jealousy


Psalm 73
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
7Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.
11And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.
15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
23Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28But 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.

Prosperity is a fickle master and it is not a respecter of people. All of us know people who are both wicked and rich in the material things of the world. And a part of us says, “That’s not fair.” Movies and TV (and even the News) are replete with stories of drug dealers, embezzlers, and criminals who make a fortune cheating people but who seem to get away with hideous activities that bring them nothing but wealth. Why does God seem to reward evil behavior? This is exactly the question the writer of this psalm is asking. He cannot understand why God would operate in this way and the bitter emotion of jealousy rises up and takes over the author’s life. It even drags him almost to the point of walking away from God! But the psalm doesn’t end badly. No, the author walks that jealousy back and refocuses his attention on God, where it belongs.

This psalm resonates with all of us. Who among us hasn’t felt that twinge of jealousy over the seemingly wicked success of another person? But we once again have to do as Paul advised in our study of Colossians. We have to set our minds on things above. Riches and success on this side of heaven would be nice. But are they worth trading in for our eternity with God? Absolutely not. This life is but a blink in our eternal existence and because of Jesus redemptive work those who believe in Him will be spending that eternity in a glorious place where He can be seen face to face.

There’s an old song that is beyond simple, but it expresses these understandings. I’ve provided a link to Jeremy Camp’s version along with the lyrics. Let these words run through your mind today as you let the world own the wealth while you let God own you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=empiUulYcDs

Give Me Jesus
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
Oh when I am alone
Give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
Oh when I come to die
Give me Jesus
Words: Public Domain All rights reserved. CCLI License # 551204

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