Envy’s Slippery Slope (cont'd)
The Psalmist, Asaph, is deeply grieved by all he has witnessed from evildoers and the wicked. We know this because early in the psalm he acknowledges (vss. 2-3), “…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Yet, just when it seems as though he is going to surrender his mind and heart to envy’s downward pull (vss. 13-14), Asaph takes hold of his thoughts and gathers himself (vs.15). Rather than allowing himself to be lost in his own thinking… the clouded musings of his mind, Asaph seeks the Lord. In so doing, he gains perspective about his own walk as well as the apparent advantages that the wicked enjoy.
Herein the lesson on how to avoid envy’s slippery slope continues. Asaph neither speaks ill of God, nor wallows in his circumstances. But, when unable to make sense out of life’s nonsense, he turns to God. He enters the house of the Lord… the sanctuary of his God. It is there that he comes to understand and embrace the truth concerning the way of the wicked. He learns what we would all do well to remember. We should never get caught-up in appearances, for things are not always as they appear. In truth, it is not the righteous whose feet are on a slippery slope, but it is the wicked whose feet are destined to slip and fall. It is the wicked, those who choose to remain so and revel in evil, that will ultimately go down into disgrace.
Let Us not envy the wicked nor become embittered because of what they possess. Let Us not lose our desire for what is good and righteous, for the Lord shall certainly grant the faithful with an eternal reward.
Let Us Pray
Lord God, we are grateful for your grace and the mercies you continually extend to your children. Thank you for encouraging our souls in the face of hardship and difficulty. No matter the circumstance, may we always look to you… may we always seek your will.