Why do the wicked prosper and the godly suffer?

Read Psalm 73

 This Psalm was written by Asaph. The theme is still a question that many Christians find hard to answer – why do the wicked prosper and the godly suffer?  The writer admits that he is envious of the prosperity of the wicked (verse 3).  Do you ever wonder if living an obedient and holy life is worth the discipline and effort when you see those who reject and mock God succeeding?  It is hard to watch people who lie, cheat and steal live in luxury when your personal uprightness causes you to suffer financial loss.  After concluding that the wicked seem free of troubles (verses 4-12), Asaph starts to feel some inner turmoil (verses 13-15).  He questions why he has kept his heart clean and why he is rebuked every morning despite his upright life.  He almost concludes that it is futile to live a godly life.  His conclusions change when he refocuses on God and sees that the wicked are headed for judgment (vs. 17-20).  He confesses his own ignorance (vs. 22) and recognizes that even the most successful people, no matter what they accomplished, forfeit all of it if they die without Christ as their Savior.  It was then that he sees and values the relationship that he has with God.  How God guides him (vs. 24) and the other rewards of faithfulness.  The godly are not neglected, they are continually with God, being led by the tender Shepherd and directed by the Spirit of God.  His conclusion (vs. 27-28) is that those who are far from God perish and those who trust in Him are saved therefore he calls us to trust in the Lord. 

Overview of Psalm 73:

Verses 1-3: Envying the wicked

Verses 4-12: The wicked seem free of troubles

Verses 13-15: Inner turmoil over this dilemma

Verses 16-17: The answer to the dilemma

Verses 18-20: The wicked will ultimately be destroyed

Verses 21-28: Renewing his allegiance to God

PRAYER & MEDITATION

1. In what ways do you struggle with the same question that Asaph struggled with in this Psalm?
2. What does this Psalm teach us about the importance of focusing on God and the eternal consequences of sin?
3. Ask the Lord to grow in you a deeper fear of the Lord so that you would desire to flee from sin and walk in holiness.  

Summer Reading Ideas!

Here are some great summer reading ideas.  You can probably find most of them at the church library although many are worth buying and adding to your home library! 

1.       Anything by A.W. Tozer: The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God, The Best of Tozer Book 1 & 2

2.       Anything by Mike Bickle: The Pleasure of Loving God, The Rewards of Fasting, Passion for Jesus, Growing in the Prophetic, etc.

3.       Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleship

4.       Keith Green:  No Compromise (biography)

5.       Brother Lawrence: The Practice of the Presence of God

6.       Brother Yun: The Heavenly Man (biography)

7.       Richard Wurmbrand: Tortured for Christ (biography)

8.       Roy Hession: The Calvary Road

9.       Corey Russel: Pursuit of the Holy

10.   Anything by Oswald Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest Devotional, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, etc.

11.   Tedd Tripp: Shepherding a Child’s Heart (parenting)

12.   John Bevere:  Fear of the Lord, Bait of Satan (warning: his recent books are prosperity gospel)

13.   C. Peter Wagner: Apostles and Prophets

14.   Charles Swindoll: Jesus, David, Joseph, Esther (biographies of Biblical characters)

15.   Ravi Zacharias: Why Jesus? (apologetics)

16.   Elie Wiesel: Night (biography of the holocaust)

17.   Corrie Ten Boom: The Hiding Place (biography of the holocaust)

18.   John Bunyan: Pilgram’s Progress (allegory, available in old and updated English)

19.   John Piper: Desiring God, A Hunger for God

20.   Jim Bakker: I Was Wrong (biography)

21.   Anything by C.S. Lewis: Screwtape Letters, Miracles, Mere Christianity, Chronicles of Narnia, etc.

22.   Randy Alcorn: Heaven, Safely Home

23.   William P. Young: The Shack (fiction)

24.   Richard J Foster: Celebration of Discipline

25.   Henry Cloud and John Townsend: Boundaries (self-help)

26.   Josh McDowell: Evidence that Demands a Verdict (apologetics)

27.   J.I. Packer: Knowing God

28.   The Autobiography of George Muller

29.   The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

 

Protein Bars (yum, yum)

Thanks ladies, for a wonderful year of cell!  I hope you enjoy your summer and see you Wed, Sept 19! 
Here is Jan's famous protein bar recipe! 


Base: melt in a pot (do not boil)

1 cup butter or coconut oil

1 cup almond butter or peanut butter

½ cup honey

Add:

1 cup protein powder (one with a vanilla base is good)

6 cups rolled oats or granola (or do half oats and half granola)

Add 3-4 of the following (don’t add them all):

¼ cup cashews, almonds (chop)

2 TB flax, hemp, sesame seeds

¼ – ½ cup pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, carob chips, coconut, goji berries

Mix and put in a large cookie sheet or 9 x 13 pan.  Keep refrigerated.

Warning:  Do not eat more than 1-2 bars per day (especially for children) or the high protein content could upset your stomach.