Calvary's touch-Encourages you-When perplexed by the prosperity of the ungodly

When Perplexed by the Prosperity of the Ungodly

Few of us have not pondered the problem of why it is that ungodly people appear to get away with so much while the good seem to be beset by so many problems. The psalmist voiced this dilemma in Psalm 73. If we were to paraphrase what he says it would sound something like this: "Here I am living a godly life, keeping my heart and hands clean, avoiding sin, meditating on the Word of God, yet despite this I am facing all kinds of trouble and sorrows. What's the advantage in serving God if He doesn't protect me from the difficulties I am in?" How did the psalmist move through that perplexity to a position of trust and dependancy on God? If we can discover that then perhaps we can emerge with changed perspectives too.

The first thing he did was to go into the house of the Lord, and as he lifted up his eyes to God in worship, his way of looking at things began to change. He saw things from God's perspective, and the matter that seemed to turn him around was this: "Then I understood their final destiny" (v.17). As soon as he considered the end of the road for the ungodly, everything fell into place for him. He had looked only at their present position-ignoring moral restrictions, pursuing evil ambitions-and had forgotten their destiny. When he understood that he ceased to be envious and thought to himself: "They might as well be happy now for their end will be one of extreme unhappiness."

The truth that the psalmist saw and held on to as he quietly sat in the house of God is the one we must see and hold on to also.We can always live with the present when we understand and know the future. Be encouraged.

"O Father, how desperately I need the perspectives of Scripture if I am to make my way through this world with calmness and poise. Help me keep my eyes on the future, for I see that only as I do this can I live effectively in the present. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Scriptures on which to reflect:

1.Changing one's perspective: Psalm 73: 16-17.
2. Ungodliness has no future: Psalm 37: 1-3.
3. Only the riches of God survive: Luke 12: 20-21.
4. Envy is bad for you: Proverbs 14: 30.
5. Earthly things are merely temporary: Psalm 37: 35-36.
6. God's answer to Jeremaiah's complaint: Jeremaiah 12: 1, 17.
7. Zeal, not envy, ought to dominate our hearts: Proverbs 23: 17.
8. A distinction with a great difference: Malachi 3: 18.

**********************************Letter # 41 (28.10.2000)*****************************