Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

BUT ME

August 19, 2010

Looking around at others may not be the best way to assay how life is going, how I'm doing as a Christ-follower.

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped. I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. - Psalm 73:1-3 TNIV

The Psalmist trusts God's goodness, but is upset about life's inequities. "Why is it I'm working at being a person of God and struggling, yet my neighbor, who is a first-class jerk, just bought a new S Class and a vacation home in the mountains? What's up with that, God?" Psalm 73 is a wonderful cry of lament, speaking candidly with one's God. Its words may have been on our lips as well.                                                                                                                      
Yet he goes on to say, "When my heart was grieved...I was a brute beast before you." In his own prayer the Psalmist learns to stop comparing what others are doing, and return to a focus on God. "But as for me, it is good to be near God." And just maybe there's good news in this for us as well.

Joyfully,
Dale Patterson