Jealous Of The Wicked?

Jealous of the Prosperity of the Wicked?

Psalms 37:1-11

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

The book of Psalms deals with some of the most perplexing issues we face such as “life and death, wisdom and folly, reward, and punishment” but one of the most difficult challenges this book describes is how to not fret or feel jealous of the prosperity of the wicked! It is all too easy to experience negative emotions when seeing those with callous hearts and evil imaginations obtain riches, fame, and power, often by unlawful means and at the expense of God-fearing people! If we are honest we must admit that even us born again believers are often envious of these “sinners’ possessions” and the apparent stability and pleasure it brings their lives. Sometimes their prosperity promotes anger in our hearts that their injustices doesn’t seem to provoke the Lord who is sovereign over all things seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16) to give them the just rewards recompensing their atrocities. While we know that these emotions are sins and often only serve to rob us of being at peace with what God has given us, how are we to “remain cool” and not become so envious that we end up joining them in their evil and folly? Psalms 37 masterfully outlines how God would have us view the prosperity of the wicked. The first part of this sermon is going to suggest that trust and fellowship with the Lord are crucial in keeping us from envying the wicked. The second part of this sermon is going to suggest that both fretting and anger are sins to be avoided and the last part of this sermon is going to review the destinies of both the wicked and the faithful to show how it is folly to be jealous of those with temporary pleasures but in the end face eternal damnation!

Trusting in the Lord

To ensure one does not give into feelings of envy or anger at what appears to be unjust blessings for the wicked one must learn to trust in the Lord. “We must not let the seeming prosperity of the “wicked” and “those who do wrong” undermine our trust in the just character and sovereign power of Yahweh.” To keep from “giving into self-pity and hatred” in the face of trials because the wicked seem to be on a mountaintop of blessings, King David says, requires having trust in the Lord (Psalms 37:3) that He will always do good unto those He loves (Romans 8:28) and in difficult times comfort and lead them by the still waters that gives them unspeakable joy despite their harsh circumstances (2 Corinthians 1:4; Psalms 23). Trusting in the Lord requires incredible faith that while one often cannot see how one’s circumstances are for one’s good one still believes beyond a doubt that since God’s ways are higher than our ways His plan for our lives is always better any outcome we could achieve by our own hand (Isaiah 55:8-9)! It is the kind of faith that fully “relies on God, His favour, His providence, His promise, and His grace.” It is not self-centered, nor it is passive but one in which the person that is quietly trusting in God will experience the power of God and in their born-again new life express gratitude by doing good to others. For example, it was through absolute trust the shepherd boy David fought the almost ten foot tall giant Goliath with but a sling and five smooth stones (2 Samuel 17), that Daniel prayed publicly despite knowing that this meant he would be thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 6), that Queen Esther pleaded with the king Xerxes to save the Hebrew people despite knowing if he did not hold out his gold scepter in approval she would be executed (5:11), and it took incredible faith for Apostle Paul to be content in the face of being in prison, five times receiving the 40 lashes minus one, three times beaten with rods, and always being in danger from fellow Jews and Gentiles who persecuted him because of the Gospel message (2 Corinthians 11:20-29)! How does one get this kind of faith? … by drawing nearer to the Lord and in feeling His infinite love being more than just content but overwhelmed with unspeakable joy that one’s true reward in this life and the next is a relationship with one’s Creator!

Fellowship with the Lord

To truly trust in the Lord comes from spending time under the shelter of His wings, submitting too His right to rule over one’s life and basking in His glory! Before becoming born again we resisted a relationship with the Lord because we thought His commands “were too moralistic and harsh … intended only to keep us from fulfilling themselves or having any fun.” Upon faith in His atoning sacrifice (John 3:16) we received the Spirit of truth (John 16) that leads and guides us in a manner that the commands of God are no longer seen as a burden but the means of living rightly and pleasing our holy God (1 John 5:3)! The reason why many Christians lose their first love in the Lord is due to not drawing nearer to Him (James 4:8) and allowing Him to transform and renew their minds into His very image! It is only through submission and solace with our Creator that we find there is unspeakable delight in His beauty, bounty, rest, and assurance that He alone is our portion forever! King David states if we truly trust God by submitting to Him for every decision, we make then we will find delight not only in His presence, but in receiving the promised desires of our hearts (verse 4)! This does not mean that God will grant every “whimsical or irresponsible” request we make but the assurance that anything asked in His will and name that is good for us will be granted! Our righteous rewards are not money, fame, or power that the worldly seek but fellowship with the “sovereign, exalted, awesome God the Bible everywhere pictures Him to be!” Is not getting even a glimpse of the “grace, compassion, mercy, kindness, patience and love” of God truly the desires of a regenerate heart? Nothing in this world compares to the glory of God so David rightly states when you are envious of the wicked remember your spiritual blessings in Christ for, He truly is the “righteous reward that shines like the dawn” (verse 6).