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Are you ever tempted to envy those who have more than you? Sometimes we look at rich people, and find ourselves idolizing their status, their wealth, or their power, but this is a dangerous trap! Many times their apparent blessings come with a terrible cost. David warns us from envying the wicked, comparing their momentary flash of fame and prosperity to the grass, which soon fades and withers.

It comes from getting our priorities backwards. You see, the grass which grows in the ground is of this earth. Like everything on this earth, it is temporary, limited by time. But our eyes should be on eternal things.

Many times I fool myself into thinking that the desires of my heart are earthly pleasures. Then, when I compare my state with those around me, I may feel jealousy or frustration that I don't have these things.

But the real desires of my heart, those things deep within me, are exactly what I can find when I wait on God. When I am meek, and when I refrain from anger, then I will find fulfillment and enjoy the true pleasures of this earth. If I do not worry, but trust that God will act, then he will vindicate me, and cause my life to shine like the light of the sun.

So do not focus on these evil people nor their apparent prosperity, but instead focus on God, and his rewards. When we take delight in Him, he will multiply our blessings and he will protect us, and promote us.

Dear Lord, give us insight to see our heart as you do, courage to lay it in your hands, and faith to follow where you lead.

Amen

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Exhortation to Patience and Trust
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land,
and delight in abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous,
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to kill those who walk uprightly;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous person has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will abide for ever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times,
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked perish,
and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrow, and do not pay back,
but the righteous are generous and keep giving;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 Our steps are made firm by the Lord,
when he delights in our way;
24 though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us by the hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are ever giving liberally and lending,
and their children become a blessing.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#scripturesongs #psalm37:1-26