Psalm 37: Don't Let Others Get You Down

Psalm 37 was my inspiration today.

I get discouraged easily. Sometimes it seems like people have absolutely no regard for each other anymore. It seems like the more cutthroat you are, the more successful you will be in this world. My students recently finished studying the novel The Lord of the Flies. In a post-reading discussion, I asked my students, "do you think that everyone is capable of the same evil these little boys left on an island were?" 

One of my students bluntly answered, "Of course. Nobody cares about anyone else. I always look out for myself first. People will always do what they want. Nobody really wants to care about others."

I found this student's comment extremely depressing, but I think it's true. I don't think that any of us are inherently selfless. I think that selflessness is only inspired by God. It is natural for us to want to look out for ourselves first--to lash out at those who hurt us, to become envious when others succeed, to complain when life doesn't deal us a "fair" hand. 

Christians aren't immune to these feelings of anger and envy. It is especially frustrating when we try to live our lives for the Lord---to try and be "good people"---only to be trampled by mean-spirited people. But Psalm 37 reassures us that the triumphs of evil people are short lived and temporary. God actually "laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming" (Psalm 37: 13 NIV). It is difficult to keep this in perspective, but we must remember that this life is temporary. Any successes or failures that occur in this life are short-lived. God has promised vindication for the faithful. 

I am always reminded of Paul when I think about people who sneer and scoff at the Christian faith. Paul (formerly Saul) hated Christians. He hated everything about them. He was responsible for countless Christian deaths as he hunted down, tortured, and killed many followers of Christ. However, God chose to reach out to this evil man and use him to spread the gospel throughout the known world. This murderer of Christians became one of Jesus' most devout followers and ended up authoring the majority of the New Testament. God can change the hearts of evil people; and even if they choose to ignore God, they still have to face God on Judgement Day just like everyone else. Just because you ignore God doesn't mean He'll ignore you. One way or another, every single person will acknowledge and answer to God sooner or later.

Don't let the success of liars and cheaters make you angry. Don't let setbacks and hardships get you down. It is all temporary. God sees all our temporary moments, and he wants them to add up to an eternity with Him. Each person needs to make the most of the fleeting time they have and not waste time worrying about what others think, say, or do.

"Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has."

-Billy Graham