Thought for Monday, 34 October

 Psalm 37:1-4 New International Version

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.  Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

I’m sure all of us have heard of someone getting away with getting benefits they were not entitled to, folk getting recognition at work for a good thing someone else has done or someone winning a race or getting a prize through cheating.  We hear of lenient sentences being given out for serious crimes.  We hear of unfair treatment being dished out to the most vulnerable in society.  We hear of people becoming wealthy by crooked means or by just ‘playing the system’.  

 

Things like this are incredibly difficult to ignore, the kind of things that breeds resentment, maybe even envious, can make you angry, even seek revenge and it’s a normal response to just hope that something would happen so these people or organisations so that they would get their comeuppance.

 

In this Psalm we are told not to fret about these people, nor to be envious of those that do the wrong thing and appear to get away with it.  We are just wasting our time and energy about situations we have no control over and people we cannot influence.  It can make us bitter and doesn’t in any way, improve our lives.  It is more likely to have the opposite effect.

 

Today’s psalm teaches us that if our minds are correctly focused on the Lord, then our hearts are not weighed down with the troublesome behaviour of the wicked, nor overwhelmed with the continuous flood of evil in the world.  It is a safer option, and it assures us that he will provide the honest and true things that will certainly bring us true contentment.

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when we face difficult circumstances and people, we can easily become angry.  Usually we keep this anger within, but it can be difficult, and it does affect us.  It keeps us from pleasing you and ministering to and setting an example to others.  Thank you for your wonderful example on the cross how you forgave those who mocked and tempted you and placed you there.  Teach us to respond to others as you did, with graciousness and love.         Amen