Psalms 73:2-3, NET – “But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me. For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.”
Not long ago, a funny but sad incident happened. A man was seriously admiring a luxurious car which was parked along the road. He watched it closely and even when he had passed by it, he kept looking back in admiration as he walked on. Unfortunately, he ended up slipping and falling heavily on muddy ground. As this was reported, the scripture above came to mind.
What really caused the man to fall was not the mud but his attention on another man’s property. He fell because of envy of the prosperity of another man.
To envy is to feel resentful and unhappy because someone else possesses, or has achieved, what one wishes oneself to possess, or to have achieved, eg; to envy the wealthy, a woman’s beauty, or an honest man’s reputation.
Envy is wanting what someone else has. You might see a neighbor with a new car, or a coworker gets a new job and desire the same. You might feel a sense of resentment toward the individual for attaining something you want but have yet to achieve. It’s a feeling of discontentment at the success of another – envy will take-away, or deprive you of, or stop you from possessing what The Blessing Has given you
Before we can remove or move past their issues of envy, we have to consider its ROOT CAUSE. In almost every case, envy arises when we are experiencing dissatisfaction in our own lives. It’s when we so badly desire and yearn for success, connection, or affection from others, and we don’t get it.
Although many people consider “envy” and “jealousy” synonymous, they actually have distinct meanings. Envy is “the painful feeling of wanting what someone else has, like attributes or possessions.” If you’re jealous, you feel “threatened, protective, or fearful of losing one’s position or situation to someone else.”
Envy is a killer of The Presence of God, it brings rottenness to your spirit. Envy should be laid aside – it can stop The Blessing In your life – it should not be tolerated – you can’t abide in The Blessing with envy in your life. Envy will move you to speak against, blaspheme, & contradict. When you harbor envy in your heart, you are a canal
Asaph the Psalmist described his experience of how he almost slipped as a result of him envying the pride and the prosperity of the wicked. He had totally lost focus on what his God was doing in his life and was gradually being dragged into the ungodliness of the wicked, because of the pseudo prosperity it seemed to produce.
Beloved, God is a Wise God who knows the end from the beginning. He knows how to prosper and sustain His children and He takes time to perfect His blessings in their lives. He also knows the destruction that lies ahead of the wicked who seem to be having it all in life. That is why He considers it unwise for us to envy the proud, He is about to reduce to nothing, and the wicked He is about to punish.
I want to admonish you today. Do not feel bad, envious, or desire the wealth of the wicked after all ‘the wealth of the sinner (wicked) is laid up for the just’ (Proverbs 13: 22). If you do that, you will slip and great will be your fall. However, stay focused and be faithful to God, and He will prosper you in good time.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I questioned You in my heart because of the prosperity of the wicked. Please deliver my feet from slipping and prosper Your servants in good time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
QUESTION FOR MEDITATION
What is the right thing for me to do when I observe the prosperity of the wicked?
