Psalm 37:1
Psalm thirty-seven reads like a message or a sermon. There is no hint of prayer or praise, but it is full of instruction. As a boy growing up, I enjoyed building models. I specifically was interested in anything that was from the World War II era. I would do some chores for my grandmother, and she would take me to K-mart to pick out a model. In the excitement of wanting to assemble it, I would hurriedly look over the instructions and begin trying to put it together on my own. At times there might be an extra part left over. I simply had not followed the instructions. I believed that my own way was the best way, and the model was incomplete. I believe spiritually speaking as Christians we often times follow our own instructions, and our lives are not the lives that the Lord would have for us. The Bible says, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13.)
When we have the correct perspective, we will look at what appears to be prosperity through the eye lens of God’s word, and we won’t feel envy for the comfort, ease, and success of the workers of iniquity. We should feel compassion knowing that the life they live at this very moment is as good as it is going to get. The word fret has the meaning: to be irritated or angry. We often exert so much energy over things that we should just simply lay down. When we stir up such feelings in our hearts, our lives do not bare the fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23) but plants the bitter seed of the flesh. Isn’t it interesting to know that such feelings were prominent even in the time that David wrote this Psalm?
Don’t fret nor be envious, but purpose to pray for the evil doers and the workers of iniquity. They need to be saved.