Getting Better or Bitter? (Psa. 73:1-28)
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Heb. 12:15)
Quote: " I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" - ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Illustration: This missionary and his wife were on there way home from the mission field on this large ship. Also on this same ship was well known dignitary going home as well. When the ship docked the missionary couple watched as the dignitary was greeted with much music and a large group of people. After the commotion of the dignitary the missionary couple walked down the plank, totally unnoticed. The husband said to the wife, "It is not fair that this man gets all the recognition and he has not done anything for the Lord." The wife said to her husband, "But dear we are not home yet"
Asaph teaches us a great deal about the struggle between bitterness or betterment in Psalm 73.
Key Verses: "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You uguide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psa. 73:21-26)
Illustration: Bitterness is simply an absence of the betterment we find in praising God. When we focus on what is what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable, upright, and praise-worthy, we can fill our mind with that which makes us better thereby eliminating bitter thoughts. (Phil. 4:8)
Story: The college professor challenged the class with this question. "Did God make everything there is?"
One student bravely answered, "Yes!"
"Everything, young man?"
"Yes, he did, sir," the young man replied.
The professor responded, "If God made everything, then God made evil, and if we can only create from within ourselves, then God is evil."
The student didn’t have a response and the professor was happy to have once again proved the Christian faith to be a myth.
Then another man raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you something, sir?"
"Yes, you may," responded the professor. The young man stood up and said "Sir, is there such thing as cold?"
"Of course there is, what kind of a question is that? Haven’t you ever been cold?"
The young man replied, "Actually, sir, cold does not exist. What we consider to be cold, is really only the absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there."
The young man continued, "Sir, is there such thing as dark?"
Once again, the professor responded "Of course there is."
And once again, the student replied. "Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally, the young man asked, "Sir, is there such thing as evil?"
The professor responded, "Of course. We have rapes, and murders and violence everywhere in the world, those things are evil."
The student replied, "Actually, sir, evil does not exist. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is a term man developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn’t like truth, or love, which exist as virtues like heat and light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat or darkness without light."
The professor had nothing to say
1. Asaph was no slouch. He was a sucessful man of God. He wrote several sacred lyrics for worshipful songs found in 2 Chron 29:30. Not only did Asaph write Psalm 73, but also the next 10 in sucession as well as Psa. 50 are all attributed to him. Asaph was a musical man who was known as a choir director so he obviously had ability to help lead in worship music. He was used of God in many ways, but even he struggled with the temptation to give in to bitterness, anger and envy.
2. Asaph was used greatly by God as a prophet as we see in 2 Chron 29:30. We learn about Asaph as a man who was a seer or a visionary for his times. He was also a fruitful man in that his children walked with God. 1 Chron. 25:1 records that four of his sons participated in conducting the chorus that sung at the temple dedication.
3. However, Asaph started to regress toward bitterness but he struggled with over-reacting to the prosperity, pleasures and privileges of others. Read verses three through twelve and you get an idea of how terribly jealous and envious Asaph became despite his track record of successes. No matter how far we come we are still subject to slipping into embitterment, regression spiritually and the mire of loss of focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before Him did not mind the difficulties, but endured the cross, for the joy that was set before Him. (Heb. 12:1-3)
4. ome of us become embittered, angry and impatient with God when we compare ourselves with others. Remember what Jesus told Peter when he tried to compare his lot with John in John 21:15-20. Jesus said to Peter, "If I want John to remain until I come, what is that to you. You follow me."
Song: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
5. Sometimes when we feel our work is not appreciated or it makes very little difference in the world, we can fall in to the bitterness trap. Asaph felt that his service for the Lord was in vain....perhaps because he saw no physical evidence.
6. Let us come into the presence of God daily with singing and serve the Lord with gladness and know that He is God. (Psa. 100:1-5) We serve the Lord out of love, obedience and trust not because anyone gives us recognition for what we do. Be sure that this is your motivation.
7. Try to not just focus on the present, but thank God for the great things He has done for you in the past. Also, be hopeful that He will do greater things through you in the future. Jesus said, "He who believes in me, the works that I do will He do also and greater works than these will He do because I go the Father. You can ask ask anything in my name and I will do it." (John 14:12-14)
8. Do not personalize your problems, predicaments or the prosperity, peace or pride of the wicked. Know that the Lord will bring vengeance and vindication. The Lord promises that whatever a man sows that will he also reap. Regardless of how great things look for the wicked know that the Lord is the judge, evaluator and accountant of us all.
9. God gave Asaph strength, stability and sustenance because he worshiped even when he struggled. (verses 17-24) When you sense you are struggling with bitterness be sure to take time out to praise God for His prevailing love, His hope, His power, His purpose, His problem-solving abilities and thank Him for allowing you to learn to be content in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. You can do all things through Christ who strengths you. He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:12-19)
10. Get around Godly people who can encourage you to look up rather than look around at the people of the world. Perhaps Asaph was spending too much time in the company of the ungodly instead of with the godly. Heb. 10:24, 25 teaches us "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together , as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The farther we go the more we will need the fellowship of godly people.
11. Thank, praise and reflect on all the advantages we have over those who allow themselves to become bitter, cynical and negative. We have many advantages over Asaph in the New Testament such as in the following examples:
1. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
Illustration:
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who was
fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair
fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though
she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years had recently passed away, making
the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the
nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was
ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a
visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets
that had been hung on her window.
"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old
having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room ... just wait."
"That doesn’t have anything to do with it," she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the
furniture is arranged... it’s how I arrange my mind. I already
decided to love it ..."
"It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have
a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I
have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out
of bed and be thankful for the ones that do."
"Each day is a gift," she said, "and as long as my eyes open I’ll
focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored
away just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank
account. You can only withdraw from it what you’ve put in.
So, my advice to you is to deposit a lot of happiness in the
bank account of memories."
Remember the six Biblical rules to be happy:
1. Accept Jesus as your Savior and let Him reign and rule in
your life
2. Free your heart from hatred.
3. Free your mind from worries.
4. Live simply.
5. Give more.
6. Expect less.
7. Avoid murmuring and complaining
2. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
3. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I John 4:4
5. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. I John 5:4
6. The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but deliverance is of the LORD. Proverbs 21:31
7. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:57
Get better as you praise, thank and share with others the bounty we have as the Lord is our Shepherd (Psalm 23)
The Lord is my Shepherd - - That’s a relationship
I shall not want - - That’s Supply
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - - That’s rest
He Leadeth me beside the still waters - - That’s refreshment
He restoreth my soul - - That’s healing
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - - That’s Guidance
For His Name sake - - That’s Purpose
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -- That’s testing
I will fear no evil - - That’s protection
Thou art with me - - That’s Faithfulness
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - - That’s Discipline
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - - That’s Hope
Thou annointest my head with oil - - That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over - - That’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - - That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - - That’s Security!
Forever - - That’s Eternity!
courtesy or NPPN newsletter
Illustration: A Climate of Forgiveness
In his tape Living Faith (Random House Audio Books, 1996), President Jimmy Carter shares that forgiveness is fundamental to his life. He says that without the knowledge that he can be forgiven, it would be impossible for him to face his own shortcomings. This even includes forgiveness of himself.
He relates that both he and his wife, Rosalynn, are "strong-willed" persons who find it difficult to admit being at fault.
One day, after a particularly disturbing argument, Carter decided that he would never let another day end with each of them angry with the other. So he went out to his wood shop and cut a thin piece of walnut, a little smaller than a bank check. On it, he carved the words, "Each evening forever this is good for an apology or forgiveness, as you desire." That evening, he gave the plaque to Rosalynn. He reports that, so far, he has been able to honor it each time Rosalyn has presented it to him.
With his plaque, Carter created a climate of forgiveness between the two of them. Without the knowledge that we will be forgiven, how quickly will we admit our own faults? And how can our closest relationships be healthy if we are each afraid to apologize or unwilling to accept an apology? A climate of forgiveness is a necessary part of happiness.
From ONE MINUTE CAN CHANGE A LIFE, by Steve Goodier Thanks to Life Support System Publishing, Inc. LifeSupport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
