I Envied The Proud

Scripture: Psalm 73 (Click Link) 3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! (Psalm 73:3-7 NLT) I envied the proud! Asaph kind of gets carried away with the emotion that his envy of “the proud” stirs up in him. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been in a situation, a frame of mind where you started looking around at others and comparing yourself and your situation with them and their situation? Yeah, me too! We start comparing our internal experience with what we can observe externally by looking at others. Then we start making character judgments: Me, innocent! Them, guilty as sin!

Follow the steps with me: 3) I saw them prosper – Fact; Despite their wickedness – Judgment; 4) They seem to live such painless lives – Opinion. Actually we have no idea what pain they may be experiencing; They’re so healthy and strong – And your point is…? 5) They don’t have troubles like I have, they’re not plagued with problems like I am – We can only see the outward appearance. We simply don’t know the whole story; 6) They’re clothed in cruelty and flaunting their pride. – Maybe so, but I’m not sure how reliable my judgment is, because I’m really worked up about this, you know? 7) They have everything their hearts could wish for – You know what, that’s probably not true! Here’s the problem, friends. When we start comparing ourselves with others we think are better off or who we think are getting away with something, we immediately start judging them. It becomes good guys (us) versus bad guys (them). Without even realizing it, we move from believing in a God of justice and grace, judgment and mercy, to believing in a kind of “Christian Karma” that says, “I’m innocent and good and they’re wicked, evil and proud of it, so good things should be happening to me and bad things should be happening to them!” It’s painful to walk through this process with Asaph, isn’t it? Hold on till tomorrow, friends! Let’s see what happens! Prayer: Father, Thanks for Asaph’s honesty. Please help us to learn not to compare ourselves and our situations with others. Help us not to exchange our trust in you for Christian Karma. Thanks so much for your Grace and Mercy! Amen!