Psalm 73:16-17 — “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”
Pilgrim, there are things in this world that just don’t seem to make sense to us. Sometimes, when we look around, it feels like those who ignore God or even mock Him are the ones who get ahead. They seem to have all the money, the success, the comfort, while those who love God struggle and suffer. If you’ve ever wondered about this, you’re not alone. Even the writers of the Psalms wrestled with these questions.
The truth is, if we try to make sense of life just by what we see, or by our own understanding, we’ll end up confused and maybe even discouraged. Satan loves to use this to plant doubts in our minds. He whispers, “If God really loved you, why would He let you go through hard times while others prosper?” That’s the same kind of lie he used in the Garden of Eden.
The Psalmist, whether it was Asaph or David, tells us honestly that he almost lost his faith over this. He says, “My feet had almost slipped; I nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He saw that many people who cared nothing about God seemed to have it easy, while God’s people faced trouble after trouble.
Let’s look at this issue together:
The Problem: The Wicked Prosper While the Godly Suffer
God’s people are often poor and afflicted. Sometimes, the world looks down on us, and even those closest to us might not understand our faith. We also experience God’s loving discipline, which can be hard. Meanwhile, those who ignore God often seem to breeze through life. They’re proud, they do what they want, and nothing seems to stop them. They gather wealth, enjoy comforts, and sometimes even question if God is paying attention at all.
It’s easy to wonder: Why does God let this happen? Shouldn’t He reward those who love Him and punish those who don’t? Even Job’s friends thought that if someone was suffering, it must be because they’d done something wrong. Job himself struggled to understand why he, a man of integrity, was overwhelmed with trouble while others prospered. Even the prophet Jeremiah wrestled with this.
And under the Old Testament law, it seemed like God promised material blessings for obedience and hardship for disobedience. So when the wicked prospered, it looked like God wasn’t keeping His word. Even Jesus said that if we seek God’s kingdom first, “all these things will be given to you as well.” So how do we make sense of this?
The Solution: God’s Perspective Changes Everything
The Psalmist found an answer—not by thinking harder, but by drawing near to God. “When I entered the sanctuary of God, then I understood their end.” When we come to God, we see things differently.
The Danger of Their Path
Those who prosper without God are in a slippery place. Their success might look appealing, but it’s dangerous. Prosperity often leads to pride, self-reliance, and even rebellion against God. The Bible says, “the prosperity of fools destroys them.” Riches can pull our hearts away from God, and those who trust in wealth are in a perilous position, even if they don’t see it.
Imagine being at a feast, but knowing there’s a sword hanging above your head by a thread. Would you really enjoy the meal? In the same way, those without God may have comforts now, but they’re in real spiritual danger. It’s far better to have just what God gives us and know our souls are safe.
The Tragedy of Their End
The Bible warns that those who reject God, no matter how much they have now, face a terrible end. Like Pharaoh, who rose to power only to be destroyed in his pride, many are given good things in life but use them to turn further away from God. Eventually, “their feet will slip,” and they’ll face judgment.
Jesus told the story of a rich man who lived in luxury but died and found himself in torment, while a poor man named Lazarus was comforted in heaven. The rich man’s wealth did him no good in the end. The real tragedy is not in being poor now, but in being lost forever.
What Should We Learn?
Watch Our Hearts
It’s not just our actions that matter, but our thoughts and attitudes. The Psalmist almost lost his way because of envy. Let’s be honest about the thoughts that rise up in us—pride, jealousy, anger, greed—and bring them to God for forgiveness and healing.
Be Content with God’s Provision
God knows what’s best for us. Sometimes, the things we wish for would actually harm us spiritually. He may withhold certain comforts to protect us. The rich young ruler in the Gospels missed out on eternal life because he loved his wealth. Trust that God, in His wisdom and love, gives us what we truly need.
Seek the Prosperity of Your Soul
The only riches that last are spiritual riches. We can desire as much of God’s grace, peace, and presence as possible. Earthly things will pass away, but what God gives us for our souls will last forever. “If we are rich toward God, we are truly rich.” Even if we have nothing else, we have everything in Him.
Let’s remember: Don’t envy those who seem to have it all now but are far from God. Instead, draw near to God, trust His wisdom, and seek the riches that last forever. Amen.
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