What’s In It For Me?
By Carolyn
Hulliberger
"No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted."
Psalm 73:1 (The Message)
"No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted."
Psalm 73:1 (The Message)
Following
God with all your heart is difficult.
Not just difficult…there are times that will call for social, physical
or emotional discomfort, sacrifice, pain. At times it’s tempting for even the
most seasoned Christ-followers to look around and say, “Forget it. Everyone else has more fun and
prosperity…without any problems. What am I getting out of this? It’s not fair.
I’m out of here.” This feeling is nothing new.
Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, told his story and fought the same
emotions. But God has an answer to him, and to us.
Asaph
saw that “the wicked” (v. 3, NIV) seemingly had no struggles. They were
healthy, proud, arrogant, and carefree (v. 4-12). Sound familiar? Just like
many of us, Asaph found himself struggling with envy of these people. But God
showed Asaph the destination of the unfaithful. They are “cast down to
ruin…destroyed…completely swept away” (v. 18-19). And Asaph’s destination? The
very presence of God (v. 24).
At
the end of the psalm, Asaph worships God:
“I’m
still in your presence,
But you’ve taken my hand.
You
wisely and tenderly lead me,
And then you bless me.
You’re
all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
When
my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
GOD is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from
again.
But
I’m in the very presence of God—
Oh, how refreshing it is!” (v. 23-26, The
Message)
God
showed Asaph the last chapter of the book, to help him understand that he…just
like us…lives in the middle of the story. God’s faithfulness to those who love
Him does not end.
GOING DEEPER:
GOING DEEPER:
1. What are you putting your hope and confidence
in today?
FURTHER READING:
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 89:8
Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative and serves in Oakwood Church's Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls.
Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative and serves in Oakwood Church's Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls.
