Psalm 37:4-9

 Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord; await for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers. (NABRE)

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (NIV)

This is one of the toughest things to overcome in our lives. We see others succeed and it often makes us jealous. It might be easy to be happy to see someone who has struggled all their life and come to success honestly. But when it is someone who has lied or cheated their way to the top, it is frustrating. I’ve often heard, “I have worked so hard, and they just came in and took that job.” I have also heard, “why is it that everyone else seems to be better off than me?”

It is so easy to look around and see others as better off. It’s easy to look past our own blessings and be jealous, envious of others. Envy is a sin. That’s why it is easy to find envy. Satan lays things out for us to see all the time, just to see how we will react. So and so down the street (or at work, or in your family, or in the next state, etc) lied about this and they ended up with that great new _________. 

We read right here in black and white “DO NOT BE PROVOKED/ DO NOT FRET” when people succeed in their ways. They will be cut off from the promises of God. Instead we are told to “find your delight in the Lord” and “commit your way to the Lord.” Why should we when they don’t? Because if we do, God will give us the desire’s of our heart and act in our favor. Because as Christians we are called to trust in God, to act with morals and proper ethics. We know what success we have waiting for us. Even if we never see that success on this earth, we will have eternal success.  That, my friend, is the best news.

So let that neighbor or coworker have the position or the raise or whatever he may have “taken” from you. God sees what you do. God knows how hard you work and how faithful you are. Remember, what we do in silence, he sees as will repay. He also sees the lies and cheating they do in silence. And they will get their repayment one day as well. 

Light your candle, play the music. Turn your heart to God. Rejoice in him always and pray without ceasing. You are bigger than the evil ways of this world. Peace be with you today.