Is It Worth It?
Psalm 73:1-23.
Have you ever looked at the Christian life and asked the question “Is It Worth It”
o Is it worth the struggles?
o Is it worth the sacrifice?
o Is it worth the ridicule and persecution?
No doubt, each child of God here today has noticed that often the wicked prosper.We see people who are not just lost, but are absolutely wicked… evil individuals who seem to have it made. There seems to be no problems in their life and everything they touch turns to gold.
The writer of the Hymn “Farther Along” has made that observation:
“Then do we wonder”
“Why others prosper”
“Living so wicked”
“Year after year”
Sometimes we look at this and feel that it isn’t fair and we get discouraged.
Hudson Taylor, was missionary to China in the 19th century...He left his safe, secure home in Yorkshire; He walked away from a career as a successful doctor; He spent all of his money to reach the lost; His daughter died in China; His wife died in China; His own health failed on the mission field. Yet through it all he boldly proclaimed “I never made a sacrifice" His son said “my father realized that the compensations were so real and lasting that he came to see that giving up is inevitably receiving, when one is dealing heart to heart with God... The sacrifice was great, but the reward far greater." - I believe if you could ask Hudson Taylor “is the Christian life is worth it” I believe he would say “IT IS WORTH IT”
We all know the story of H.G Spafford:In 1870 his 4 year old son died of scarlet fever. He lost most of his finances in the “great Chicago fire” of 1870. In 1873 a ship carrying his immediate family sank killing his 4 daughters. When sailing near the area where his children had died... Horatio Spafford penned these words:
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way"
"When sorrows like sea billows roll"
"Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say"
"It is well, it is well, with my soul"
If you could ask H.G Spafford “is the Christian life worth it?” I believe he would say “IT IS WORTH IT”
But there may be some of you today who are at a crossroad. You are struggling, you are hurting, you may even be bitter and you just want to know… “IS IT WORTH IT?” I want to look at the life of a man named Asaph who pondered that very question. Let’s look to the text and ask the question “Is It Worth It”
I. SOMETIMES WE HAVE QUESTIONS v1-5
Asaph was a Levite. Levites were set apart for the offices of the sanctuary service. Asaph’s particular duty was that of choir leader (1 Chronicles 6:39). In the first few verses Asaph becomes very transparent and speaks of a time where he struggled in his walk with the Lord. He says “God is good to Israel but there was a time when I was slipping” He reveals in verse 3 that he “envied the prosperity of the wicked” His heart was full of envy and he was ready to quit on God - “I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.” - He felt that God was better to the wicked than to him – v3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. - In his eyes the wicked were prospering beyond measure and he envied them. To him it seemed that their lives were painless! They were strong, healthy and wealthy. He felt that the wicked had no problems It seemed that they got everything that they ever wanted - v7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. ......I believe that Asaph asked the question …”Is It Worth It?”
Notice what he says in verse 8 (the evil people) “are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Asaph felt that the wicked enjoyed a life of ease and without any effort their riches were multiplied! Am I the only one who can relate to Asaph? Have you ever been in his position? There are some “questions that we ponder”
Do you ever wonder “Where is the benefit in serving God?”
Do you ever wonder if God is there?
Do you question if He cares?
Do you ever feel like He is not listening to you?
Have you asked the question “Is It Worth It?”
There are countless blessings involved in the Christian life, but sometimes we lose perspective and begin to focus on the possessions and circumstances of others. I am not justifying this mindset but if we are honest we can relate to Asaph!
In the Christian life, “Sometimes We Have Questions” as we move further we will also see:
II. SOMETIMES WE ARE CONFUSED v2-12
Asaph looked at the life of the wicked as compared to his own life as a servant of God and there were some things that he just didn’t understand. Sometimes we are confused by situations and circumstances. Some people automatically think that the trouble they face is a curse from God. We know through the Word that sometimes troubles are a blessing from God!
Biblical illustration: Do you remember the story of Joseph? His brothers sold him into slavery, and he suffered for a while but God was working out a greater plan in his life. Eventually he was elevated to a position that made him the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt. On one occasion he encountered his brothers and they “fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants” Genesis 50:18. Listen to Joseph’s reply - Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it for good…
Friend, what you think is bad in your life may just be God working out a greater plan. And this plan is not designed for your happiness, BUT FOR HIS GLORY! Deep down we know this to be true, but we may still be confused as to why the wicked prosper.
Notice what all Asaph had to say about the wicked people of this world.
A. The wicked are free to live as they like – v4 for there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.
B. The wicked have no trouble – v5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.
C. The wicked are prideful and cruel – v6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.
D. The wicked get everything they want – v7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.
E. The wicked get away with everything – v8 they scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.
F. The wicked curse God and receive good – v9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
G. The wicked mock God and prosper – v11 And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease;
Apparently Asaph had spent a great deal of time studying the wicked.He provides a detailed in his report of their life, actions and benefits. If you look at Asaph’s mindset during this period of his life you can see that he was jealous of the wicked. I don’t know about you but I have been there! I AM GUILTY!!!
1) Have you ever driven past the river on Sunday and envied those out fishing, skiing and having a BBQ?
2) Have you ever wondered why it seems that the lost world is so “blessed with material goods and you are struggling to pay your mortgage?”
3) Have you ever complained because “the lost get to have all the fun” while you have to be a “good little boy or girl?”
4) Have you ever wondered why a saint of God struggles to live while wicked people seem to be the picture of health?
5) Have you ever been furious because a precious child dies in a car accident while the drunk who hit them walks away without a scratch?
To sum it up, have you ever asked the question “Is It Worth It?” There are many, who have asked this question and have come to the conclusion that it is not worth it! Many of our brethren that were once linked up shoulder to shoulder helping us bear the load have turned away. They have looked at a life with the Lord and they have looked at what his world has to offer and they chose the world over the Lord.
There are two classifications of people who have turned away.
1) Some who are truly saved are now backslidden and have gone back out into the world.
2) And some who turned away and said “it is not worth it” were never really saved in the first place.
Consider the lesson that Jesus taught in - Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
There are many who started, did not count the cost, decided “it was not worth it” and walked away from Jesus. You may be approaching that point in your life today, if so… Hang on! THERE IS HOPE! Sometimes we have questions, sometimes we are confused and these questions and confusion brings discouragement. Let’s look at number 3:
III. SOMETIMES WE GET DISCOURAGED - v13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me…
Asaph was so discouraged that he asked of he “kept his heart pure for nothing?” He felt that “it was all in vain”. It seemed that “all he experienced was trouble” Everyday just brought more pain. In verse 16 he proclaims that he “tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But it was a difficult task”. This man, filled with discouragement asked “IS IT WORTH IT?”
Asaph had been in a bad situation, he was very frustrated and discouraged! He was at a turning point, he could dwell on the injustices, Or he could shift his focus back to the God of his salvation.
As we have mentioned… there are many who after seeing the pleasure and possessions of the lost have asked “is it worth it”?Doing this explains many of the empty pews we see week after week. Many have the mindset that if the “wicked get away with it, I can to!” This brings about an important question….Who are you living your life for? Yourself or your Savior? Do you live your life with an earthly perspective or an eternal perspective? When using human reasoning, there may seem to be an injustice… In your mind that the lost are living it up while you “suffer”. You may feel that it is not fair that they “have all the fun”, “get all the stuff”, “and never seem to suffer”. Simply put, you are discouraged!
What may help us with our questions, confusion and discouragement is to gain the proper perspective on the situation. The truth of the matter is that we often have the wrong focus. We are focused on others instead of God. Like Asaph we have come to a place where we are jealous of the lost man… we envy the wicked. There is a huge difference… We are the children of God, THEY ARE NOT! It is a completely different lifestyle.
God didn’t tell the lost to forsake not the assembling of themselves together!
God didn’t tell the lost to give a tithe!
God didn’t tell the lost that He would chastise their sin!
God didn’t tell the lost to come out from among them and be separate!
God didn’t tell the lost to live for Him!
BUT HE DID TELL YOU to do all these things!!!
To sum it up, the lost are lost!! They are heathens! They might as well enjoy every moment of this life because this is as good as it will ever get for them! Instead of wasting our time being jealous of what they “have" and worrying about what they are “getting away with” we should see the fact that they are headed for hell and have a burden to tell them about Jesus. But we don’t because we are too busy whining about how unfair life is!! Though we may struggle with this improper mindset, my intention is not to justify feeling this way. The goal today is to acknowledge it and the ADDRESS IT!
The fianl point I would like to consider is found in verses 17-28
IV. SOMETIMES WE NEED A REMINDER - v17-28
Asaph came to a place of understanding, And as a result his perspective changed. He was reminded of some things and we need a reminder as well.
A. We Need A Reminder Of Our Duty - v17 …I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Remember, Asaph was a Levite. He went into the sanctuary and saw the Lord for who He is. Folks, we need to be reminded of who the Lord is. We need to remember that He has saved us. We need to remember that He has called us. We need to stop focusing on the things of this world and focus on our service to the Lord. Honestly, if we would spend our time doing what we have been called to do then we wouldn’t have enough time to worry about the wicked and what WE THINK IS FAIR OR NOT! In fact, these people that we spend so much time envying are people that we should be REACHING! They need help and we have the answer that they need.
There is another reminder that we need that I would like to consider.
B. We Need A Reminder Of Our Destiny - v18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 ¶Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
The end of the wicked is destruction. The end for the lost man is an eternity in a lake of fire. While we are focused on the cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, houses, and many other possessions of the wicked. And while we are focused on their seemingly carefree lives We forget that we have a home in heaven and will one day walk on streets of gold. It is time for us to truly grasp the benefit of being a child of God. I believe once we get the proper perspective we will boldly proclaim IT IS WORTH IT!
We will see that:
There is a gospel worth sharing.
There are people worth reaching
There is a Savior worth serving
There is a God worth worshipping
If you could ask your loved one who have died in Christ …they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
If you could ask the Old Testament prophet’s …they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
If you could ask the New Testament martyrs…they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
If you could ask the Lord’s Apostles …they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
If you could ask the missionaries all over the world …they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
There are many people in this building that you could ask and …they would say IT IS WORTH IT!
In closing I would like to consider the life of the Apostle Paul:He faced many difficult days - 2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
This is just a brief overview of what he faced as a servant of the Lord. Consider what He said at the end of his life - II Timothy 4:16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
If you could ask Paul today… “Paul …Is It Worth it?” he would say “IT IS WORTH IT!”
Friend, you may have questions, you may be confused, you may be discouraged but once you get the proper perspective you will see that IT IS WORTH IT!
