Psalm 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:1–3, NKJV)

Have you ever envied the rich and famous? We have probably all looked at someone else and thought that they had it better than us. That is what happened to Asaph, David’s worship leader. He looked at those who were prospering and concluded that they were better off than him. They do not suffer like other people suffer. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. They have everything they could ever want. They scoff at God and think that He knows nothing.

Asaph began to question, “Have I kept my heart pure and my hands clean for nothing? All day long I am stricken, and I am rebuked in the morning.” Now Asaph had enough sense to know that if he said anything publicly, then he would offend others. So he kept his thoughts to himself. He tried to understand these things but was troubled to the point of exhaustion. However, when he went into the sanctuary of God, he perceived the destiny of the wicked. They are on a slippery slope, and one day they will be utterly swept away, like a dream when one awakes.

There is more going on here than simply a rebuke for envying the wicked. Asaph understood everything when he entered the Lord’s sanctuary. There is something cathartic about getting our eyes off the world and others and onto Almighty God. It is like ascending to a high mountaintop where we can see the panorama of the world below. When Asaph saw things from the divine and eternal perspective, his envy and bitterness vanished, and he realized that he was in the better position. The people he envied would suddenly be taken away, but he would remain with the LORD forever. God would take him by the hand, guide him with His counsel, and afterward receive him into glory.

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” (Psalm 73:25, NASB)

I think we would all agree that we have no one in heaven but God. But can we all say that besides Him we desire nothing on earth? In other words, is God enough? Asaph almost slipped when he thought that others had more than him. But he forgot that he had everything in God. Is Jesus enough for you? Then spend time today thanking Him for His blessings.