Envy In Life

Psalm 37-
Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

----------------------------------------

A group of simple but devout farmers stood by a dusty truck and expressed their frustration. One of their peers- a very irreligious man- had avoided church, gotten drunk on weekends, and generally rejected God. Yet here it was October, and he had the best crop in the county. Why had God rewarded this man's work when he flaunted his disregard for God's way? The conversation was intense, and the men seriously questioned their faith.

Finally one farmer who hadn't said much spoke up. "Fellas, I don't know everything 'bout the Bible, but I'm sure it ain't written in there that God settles all his accounts in October!"

People who follow God don't always see the immediate benefits of that trust. Worse, they sometimes have to watch others get away with doing evil. This Psalm promises that, in time, living God's way will give you "the desires of your heart" (verse 4).

But not necessarily in October!

----------------------------------------

It says to "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him" (verse 7a). The Psalm is not talking about waiting for direction from God to make a decision or some sort of action in your life. No "voice" or "leading". But rather to wait patiently BY not "fretting because of him who prospers in his way" at this time (verse 7b). (We can not take 7a and not apply 7b in context; it's one whole sentence.)

For His blessings WILL come in time, and while we wait, we are to carry on with our day to day lives "doing good", "cultivating faithfulness", "delighting in the Lord" and "trusting in His teachings" (verses 3-5).

If you do this, He promises to bring the blessings (verses 4b and 6).

I love you all