Greetings again my Brethren. Let us continue to look at God’s desire for man to wait. This month we will look at how this rest is obtained in the light of Psalms. Here is chapter 37 verses 1 – 5, we find David urging his men to patience and confidence in God by contrasting the condition of the Godly and the wicked. Verse one read, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.” Often times we get impatient to receive even from God when we see the ungodly prosper. Sadly this is but a greedy response on our part and at the heart of this emotion is a subtle admission to our lack of faith in God’s ability to take good care of us. How we can “fret” when we see someone less deserving than us excel in some way. And notice it talks about not being “envious against the workers of iniquity.” How can we be “envious” of those who work iniquity? Again when we get over in such feelings (the heart of this) it is our lack of belief God is able to take care of us beyond what the ungodly have. Make no mistake my friend our feelings and emotions will lead us out of God faster than sin or even the devil. I cannot believe the way the devil is blamed for every bad thing that happens to people. Many Christians even quote,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) to blame the devil, but in reality these verses James is talking about the heart of man being drawn about by our own lust. James tells us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16) If the devil did all of the things we blame him for he would be a powerful force in our lives. Oh no my friend our problem is our self, our nasty, carnal flesh that is alive and well that screams to be alive and in control instead of God. Now the devil is there (make no mistake) and there is no denying him, but he has no power over us that we do not gladly lend to him. We must not get upset and jealous when we see the ungodly do well in life. This is their day and that is all they get. Our day is coming soon (make no mistake) and that day is far greater than earthly treasures and some fleeting happiness (not joy) that pacifies our emotions. Verse 2 from Palms 37 gives us the end of the story for those who work iniquity,
“For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” The end of the line for these folks is they, “shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” How can we get upset and jealous at these folks? We should have a heart of sorrow and sadness (that God has been able to work in us) for them. Do you now see the contrast? In reality we fret and get jealous over the ungodly when we should have a heart of compassion and sorrow for them. This is what David was telling his men. Hey do not be envious or jealous of the evil workers because they will “soon be cut down like the grass and wither as green herb.” In Psalms 37 David used the word “iniquity” (Greek #5766) which means evil doer, wicked, unrighteous, but Jesus used a different word in Matthew. Jesus in Matthew said of Christians waiting to enter in to the joys of the LORD, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23) Here there is a different meaning and a different contrast to consider . In Matthew Jesus used the word “iniquity” (Greek #458) which means transgression of the law or lawlessness, doing things outside the framework of the law. God was talking to Christians who did mighty works of God, “have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? But, they did them in “iniquity” (Greek #458) outside the fame work of what God wanted things to be done. Did you know there are right and wrong ways to do things for God?
Remember it is not what we do for God that counts, but how we do things for God. Jesus told the disciples, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:18) Not what you hear, but “how you hear.” We cannot help what we hear sound is sound and noise is noise, but we can hear with the right heart condition to what is being said. The contrast is clear and many. Let us have the right heart condition to be able to hear what the Spirit is saying and “fret” not or be jealous when the evil doers’ ship seems to come in.
Next month we will look at how the rest of God is obtained in the light of Psalms 37 verses 3, 4, and 5. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you.
Written by David Stahl
