Envy

Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

It can be difficult to look at the success of another and be happy a for them. We tend to want what they have, at least I know I do. Being satisfied with what you have is tough.

I think this is because we have a mindset that says that if someone else has something, that means there is less for me to have. There is only so much in the world to go around. There just isn’t enough for all of us.

This can be especially true if the person who has the stuff you desire isn’t a good person. Those with a moral center still recognize when justice isn’t happening and can get angry for the right reasons. When evil seems to be getting ahead, we see this as an affront to the possibility of justice.

But out text gives us a better way to view these moments in time. The worldly success of evil people is only temporary. And by extension, the success of the righteous will be permanent. But both take time to work out to their ends.

I think we must view life from a very different perspective, one that isn’t so bound up in time, especially the present moment. We too often get so focused on what is happening right now, that we miss what will happen in the future, the future over which the LORD has control. If you have any doubts, read the final chapters!

The LORD is in control and will have the final victory. There will be small defeats along the way, at least things that look like defeat from our limited perspective. But in the end, those small defeats will be gains.

As you climb a mountain, you are very thankful for the plateaus along the way that give you rest from the climb. Even if the plateaus slow down your upward movement, they serve a purpose. They are defeats in your upward journey, but still useful in the long run.

So next time you see injustice, the non-righteous gaining ground, remember that this is a long climb. They might be gaining at the moment, but a cliff is waiting for them, a sudden crack in the earth into which they will fall. Judgment is coming for them.

The only reason we don’t fall in that crack is the Cross. The Cross bridges the gap for us. We can walk safely through life’s most difficult moments, knowing that we are carried by the Cross.