A Moment With Pastor Fred

I believe most of us wouldn’t consider ourselves plagued by the sin of envy. That word sounds so revolting. And yet envy is simply focusing more on what others have than on what I have, ie, what God has graciously provided for me. Envy causes me to question the goodness of God. With that definition – I must admit I do struggle with envy and so do you.

Envy distorts our vision. It always asks, “Is God good? Does he have favorites?” Envy finds somebody who has it better than you – who has it easier than you. Thankfully we’re not alone. Asaph in Ps 73 writes, I was envious of the arrogant  when I saw the prosperity of the wicked, v. 3.  He asks – we have asked it as well, “Is this what I obeyed you for God? Is this what I get for following you?” Verse 13, All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

It wasn’t until Asaph went to “church” – until he focused on God that his vision became unclouded, v. 17, until I went into the sanctuary of God. David Paul Tripp said, “We will never properly understand the goodness, the grace, the presence and promises of God by comparing what we have to what others have.” It is in this psalm we find some of my favorite verses – I quote them often. It is the cure to envy. May they help you as they have me.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, vs. 25-26.