Jealousy

Psalm 37:1-17

July 15, 2007

As a pastor I talk with a lot of different people. I hear a lot of concerns and problems with a fair amount of good news and joy sprinkled in the mix.

Something that bothers me as I listen to different people, not just from our congregation, but throughout society in general is the lack of satisfaction in where they are and what they are doing. I hear much more often about how things at work stink than about how fulfilling it is.

It's not unusual to ask somebody how is the new job going and be told oh, I quit. It was terrible.

The reason often given for the problem is the people they had to work with.

I suspect most of us can relate to that a little bit. We've been in positions where we had to deal with people who didn't meet our expectations whether at work, school, church, play or sadly even at home. Situations arise where conflict works it's evil and battle lines whether real or imaginary or drawn. Tensions rise and we find ourselves wanting a way out.

This is not a product of the 21st century. It's a story old as time. It began before most history books were written. Even before mankind as we know it. When angels didn't like the way things were. Again in the first family on earth of Adam and Eve we see as their children failed to get along.

The psalmist David recognized a problem in our humanity and he wrote the scripture that I want to read this morning. Words of help and encouragement as he dealt with many of the same feelings we deal with today.

Our scripture this morning is from the 37th psalm. I have grown to greatly appreciate what is written here. It covers a lot of points that we deal with daily. 1-17

(Psa 37:1) A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(Psa 37:2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

(Psa 37:3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

(Psa 37:4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

(Psa 37:5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

(Psa 37:6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

(Psa 37:7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

(Psa 37:8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

(Psa 37:9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

(Psa 37:10) For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

(Psa 37:11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

(Psa 37:12) The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

(Psa 37:13) The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

(Psa 37:14) The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

(Psa 37:15) Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

(Psa 37:16) A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

(Psa 37:17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

As I was reading this psalm I couldn't help but remember the question that comes up so frequently, why do those who seem to have no relationship with the Lord /no fear of God, seem to prosper. Never has the question been better answered than with this passage. Basically we are dealing with an illusion. They only appear to be prosperous. God's word tells us that it is such a fleeting thing.

But what concerns me more is that the reason we sometimes ask that question is because deep down we are dealing with some personal jealousy. We may say, no I'm not. I don't want what they have, but if that is the case, why does David seem to imply that the condition exists?

He says, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Don't be worrying / fretting about what those others are doing. Why does he say that? Because it's what we do. They don't even have to be evil doers. We fret about people around us who turn in poor performance on the job and yet get promoted. Things like that. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard somebody say that's just not fair. And sometimes it doesn't seem to be but there have been few cases where whining about it made it any better.

Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Why does he say that? Because it's what we do. We definitely do not want to admit to this one because 1.it involves envy which we know should not be in us and 2. we are envying people who are doing wrong. Yet we can find that describing the way we feel. David had dealt with these things. He had known what it was to be the top dog so to speak and he knew what it was to be pursued by an enemy who he had wronged in no way. He writes about things that he, who was a man after God's own heart, had experienced because he was a man.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,

That's a hard one today isn't it? Just resting in the Lord. Knowing a calm that can be ours only because we are His. Waiting patiently for Him? I have to tell on myself this morning. I don't have to but I think I'm supposed to. Bonnie and I were looking at a new used car last week. Her old car is getting quite experienced and we've been thinking about getting something with a little better gas mileage so I had been dickering with a dealer in C'ville back and forth using email. We were very close to making a deal when his email came in Monday morning. I said a quick prayer before reading it, God, your will be done. If we're supposed to get this then that's great. If not, fine. I read the email and it said "just wanted to tell you I sold the car".

Well, shoot. Dog gone it, all that trouble and no car. Deep sigh! And then I thought, what are you fuming about. Did you not just talk to God about this? If you wanted the car why didn't you say so. Be patient. The neat thing about arguing with myself is I always win.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,

Last week the message was on being committed to God. Keeping our focus on Him. This psalm ties in so well with that. Don't be fretted about others who seem to be doing better than you think you are. Focus on what God has for you. David is saying you really don't want what they are going to get.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Notice that says the meek, not the weak. It doesn't even come close to saying that. Often it takes more strength to be meek than it does to be overbearing. Jesus was meek and never has a stronger man walked the earth.

We overlook the importance of meekness.

The rest of this passage tells us in certain terms that God will take care of the evil and the wicked. We need not waste our time worrying about it. We are responsible for our actions. Proceeding as God has directed us. Not tying ourselves up in the trappings of the world.

No place is that better pointed out than when Jesus and Peter are having their little talk beside the sea of galilee. You remember, it was after they had a meal of fish and Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep after leading Peter in a little self awareness examination. They have a nice talk and then Jesus tells Peter by what death he should glorify God. Then He says to Peter follow me.

Some distance behind them John has been following. Peter turns and sees John and asks Jesus what shall this man do? Often times this is taken to mean that Peter was jealous of John. Like many of us don't want somebody else getting more than we do. Do you know what I mean?

Bonnie was telling me of an article that she read a while back using the Lone Ranger and tonto as illustrations. A lot of us have Lone Ranger mentalities. We want to be the fearless leader. The one everybody looks up to. Fewer of us want to be the faithful sidekick Tonto. We want to be Obi Wan Kanobi instead of r2d2. Roy Rogers instead of Pat Brady. We see ourselves as the victorious general instead of the faithful private.

So we assume Peter was speaking from a point of some jealousy for John. That may be unfair on our part. Is it not just as likely that he was concerned about John's welfare? Peter had just learned how he would die for God. Would a friend not wish better for a friend?

Whatever Peter meant by the question, it says in

Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. If I want him to live until I come back. What is that to you?

Do not concern yourself with what doesn't concern you. follow me. Whether Peter was asking with true concern for John, idle curiosity, or a bit of jealousy the answer was the same. That has nothing to do with you, follow Jesus.

Listen to me. Stay awake for a couple more minutes and we will go home early. That is still the message today. Whether from Psalms or the book of John or any of the many other books, we are to follow Jesus.

In the bickering of office politics. Follow Jesus. When somebody is given preferential treatment over you. Follow Jesus. When that hot dog driver cuts you off or steals that parking place. Follow Jesus. When you see somebody driving that new car that you've wanted for forever. Follow Jesus. And for you younger people, man you've got it hard. When that person gets the part in the school play that you are much better suited for. Follow Jesus. When you get to warm the bench and you should be in the game. Follow Jesus. When that other person starts dating the one who you're sure is God's will for your life, follow Jesus. When you see people doing all the things that you know aren't right and they seem to be so popular. Don't lower yourself to their standards. Follow Jesus.

When you want to shout that's not fair! Follow Jesus.

Jealousy is an ugly animal and it will turn on you and bite the hand that feeds it. The strange thing is It may slip up on you disguised as righteous indignation. It may appeal to you sense of fair play. It can even appear as idol curiosity but jealousy isn't for the child of God. It will cause you grief.

What is that to thee, follow thou me. The message is clear. The choice is yours. Follow Jesus

If you have not made that decision this morning then I invite you to follow Him. He wants it that way. You can ask Him to forgive your sins and start anew. Maybe you realize you have messed up. You've been dealing with some of these feelings of jealousy and you didn't even recognize they were jealousy. Wanting what the others have and you know you shouldn't. I am so thankful that God is in the forgiveness business. If we are truly repentant he will forgive. He will help us get it right.