YOU CAN BE RICH AND YET BE MISERABLE (PART 3)
"Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Psalms 73 verses 1 to 3, King James Version).
Dear beloved, let me begin today's devotional by urging you never for any reason to let anyone, or anything take away your trust in the Lord. Indeed, "God is truly good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts"(Psalms 73 verse 1, International Children Bible). This assertion is not only sacrosanct, but soothing! The Bible says that the "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:" (Psalms 19 verse 8). Again, it is said: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Psalms 12 verse 6). If "God is truly good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts", then notwithstanding what you go through in life, it will be wise to remain the Israel of God, with a pure heart; because Scriptures can't be broken. Soon and very soon, you'll without fail experience God's goodness in life, in Jesus name.
Many times, children of God have had to accuse the Lord with unfairness, especially when they saw "wicked people doing well" in life (Psalms 73 verse 3). "Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?", Prophet Jeremiah demanded to know. (Jeremiah 12 verse 1). The Psalmist, David said that he had almost stopped believing the truth that "God is truly good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts."; because he saw wicked people, whose hearts are far from being pure doing well in life. For this, he had almost stopped believing the truth of God's Word. He had almost lost his faith because he was jealous of proud people who were doing well in life (Psalms 73 verses 2 to 3).
Considering that these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; who increase in riches. (Psalms 73 to 12); we often ask ourselves: "Have I been foolish to play by the rules and keep my life pure?" (Psalms 73 verse 13, The Passion Translation). Frankly, we all at one point in time have asked ourselves this same question. The truth is, no matter how we ponder over this, we seem lost. "When I tried to understand all this, I found it too hard for me" (Psalms 73 verse 16, CJB). Thank God that David sought Him for knowledge.
"It troubled me until I entered God’s temple. Then I understood what will finally happen to bad people." (Psalms 73 verse 17, New International Revised Version). Indeed, only by God can we have understanding of issues such as these. No wonder, the Bible says of God that "in thy light shall we see light." (Psalms 36 verse 9). It was only through God that David came to have the understanding of the end of the wicked that prospers in his ways.
"Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction." (Psalms 73 verse 18, New Living Translation).
Knowing therefore the end of the wicked that prospers in his ways, let us cease from our foolishness and ignorance (Psalms 73 verses 3 and 22) and beware lest we also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from our own steadfastness (2nd Peter 3 verse 17); and keep believing that "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."(Psalms 73 verse 1).
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I know that you hate wickedness and disobedience. All through my life, I remain steadfast and committed to You, refusing to be moved by the prosperity of the wicked.