“1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.
3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have an easy time until they die,
and their bodies are well fed.
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore His people turn to them
and drink in their overflowing words.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?”
12 Look at them — the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.
13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed Your people.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless
17 until I entered Gods sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.”
Psalm 73:1-17
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I understand Asaph’s concerns at the beginning of this psalm. In the remaining 11 verses, he is reminded of the fate of those who stand apart from God and what is in store for those who oppose Him. But here at the beginning, Asaph’s sees what so many of us see and struggle with.
It seems that the wicked receive no punishment for their deeds. They live life, fat & seemingly happy, content and even doing quite well for themselves. And while so many of us suffer in different ways, it seems like such a contradiction. Those who follow God, we think, should be the ones who see the good things of life and this world. We should be the ones sitting fat & happy while the wicked look on wondering what’s wrong with their lives. We want prosperity and ease to be the market of a life of faith.
And that’s our flesh talking. It is self-idolatry and self worship that fills our hearts and our concern is for our flesh and not the things of God.

The life and destination of the wicked is not an acceptable alternative to living for God and seeking His glory first. This life is not about us, neither is the one to come. Eternity with God is not going to be about us sitting at ease under a shade tree sipping iced tea and having snacks hand delivered to us by the Angels. That would mean that the focus of heaven would be on us, which is again self-idolatry and a desire for self-worship.
Everything is about God. Everything is pointed at Him. And if we see the wicked sitting apparently fat and happy, we can be very sure that their lives of self-worship are going to end in destruction because they placed flesh above spirit and lies above truth.
Their end, their ‘date’ is sealed unless they repent and turn to God.
That is one of our tasks as we GoLove in Jesus’ Name. We must open the Word, share the truth and point their hearts toward true worship and the real meaning of life. None of this is about us. Our highest calling is to honor God, glorifying Him above all, and showing others the way that leads to the salvation that He has provided for us in Christ. No earthly ‘pleasure’ should take precedence over that calling. Our greatest joys come when God is glorified.