Sliding

Psalm 73, 2-3
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.

Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.

Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.