Psalm 73
So often, I just don’t live the way I want to live. I tend to worry when I should worship. Panic when I should pray. Hold a grudge when I should give grace. What is it that so often holds me back from the life of faith I long to live?
This psalm highlights four stumbling blocks to a life of faith.
- Envy (vs 3.) Proverbs 14:30 tells us that envy rots the bones. It literally eats us from the inside out.
- Self righteousness/ Self pity (vs 13.) These are two sides of the same coin. One says, “Why me?” The other says, “I deserve more.” Both focus completely on self.
- Bitterness (vs 21.) Paul’s instruction to the Ephesians was to put away ALL bitterness. Much like envy, bitterness can become all consuming.
- Ignorance (vs 22.) The prophet Hosea spoke to the people on behalf of the Lord with the warning, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6.)
Envy, self pity, bitterness, and ignorance are stumbling blocks to living the life of faith and freedom to which God has called us.
