In Psalm 73, the Psalmist declares:

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:2-3 (NIV)

There are more than 2,700 billionaires in the world today. That’s a lot of money. While some of these people are Christians, many of them are not. Although we may not look at the billionaires and think we can attain such heights of wealth, there are plenty of people around us that might tempt us with their lifestyles. Applications like TikTok and other social media sites are all about self-promotion. The pursuit of the “like” is vigorous today.

It’s easy to think that those lives are blessed as we look upon all of that self-promotion. That those we see are like those, we read of in Psalm 73.

They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

Psalm 73:4-5 (NIV)

Yet, we know that without Christ, life is nothing, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36 ESV).

Sometimes we might feel like the Psalmist.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

Psalm 73:13-14 (NIV)

But the Word of God promises us that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV). Elsewhere, Paul writes, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

I want to encourage the People of God today to look not to the right or the left but to look to God.

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalm 121 (NLT)
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