What About the Jones

“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” —Psalm 73:2–3

We have become conditioned to focus on what we don’t have rather than on what we have. Television, movies, the internet, social media, and advertising campaigns — they all conspire to point out what we lack. And they are astonishingly effective.

Without even noticing it, our self-identity has become wrapped up in things and image. We want to look like the actors on the screen. We want to have the things we see advertised. We want to become like the people we admire. And it spills over into our daily lives.

If our neighbor gets a new car, we want a new car. If they go on vacation, we want a vacation. When they lose weight, we want to lose weight. No, we don’t want those things… we need them.

This comparing even affects our faith. We assume that they do not follow Jesus as we do. We wonder why they seem so happy and fulfilled while we continue to struggle. Life seems so easy for them: good jobs, nice houses, new cars, pretty clothes, beautiful children — nothing but laughter and ease.

Even those who work to make our lives miserable — at work, school, or in the neighborhood — seem to “have it made.” They appear to be unaffected by the difficulties that are common to those of us in the church.

“When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight.” —Psalm 73:16

As I read my Bible and listen in church, I see God promising to take care of His children.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” —Malachi 3:10

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” —Luke 6:38

But that is not my experience. I struggle. My budget rarely works out. My car breaks down. My house needs paint. My children need clothes. My father has dementia. I am unhappy at work. And I wonder if God can hear my prayers.

All of this makes me a little angry at God.

Why does it seem that those who want nothing to do with God have it easier than those who belong to Him?

These questions are oppressive.

“Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.” —Psalm 73:17

But then, God.

As I loosen my grip on what I can see and understand, God draws me to Himself. He invites me into His very presence. When I confess that as a sinner I deserve death, I give up my right to anything good and become grateful for everything I have been given in Him.

I shift my eyes from His hand to His face.

It is then that I can begin to imagine myself in the midst of the scene in Revelation 4. In His presence, my vision is lifted above the mundane to the eternal:

“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne…” —Revelation 4:2–11

Suddenly, everything changes.

Just an instant in His presence is all it takes. Once I’ve become intimately aware of His glory, my vision of the world changes. I am now able to see the world through His eyes.

I no longer evaluate people according to how they look, what they say, or how they act. I can now see that we are all His children—created in His image, called to love and worship Him. He desires that we all should come to Him through the blood of His Son.

I have no justification to stand in judgment of anyone in this world. I was created and called to love God and to love His children.

Rather than being bitter about their apparent blessings, I now see their pain and loneliness. I am aware of their need for forgiveness and acceptance. I am drawn to their hurt. I desire to love them as God does.

“When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.” —Psalm 73:21–22

I can see now how I appeared to God when I was consumed by envy and judgment. I am ashamed of how quickly I forgot my sinful nature and began to stand in judgment of my neighbors.

The truth is, we are all sinners in need of a loving, forgiving God.

And that is exactly the God we serve.

How can I offer anything less?

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” —Psalm 73:26

Father, open my eyes to the truth.
Help me to see others the way You see them.
Help me to see You.