“Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.” (Psalm 73:7, KJV 1900)
Three men were marooned on a desert island. As the days slowly went by, they dreamed of what it would be like to be at home with their friends and family, to be back at their jobs doing the things they loved. One day one of the men found a bottle that contained a genie. He opened the bottle and the genie announced that he would grant each of them one wish.
One of the men said, "Boy, I want to be back in Seattle with my wife and kids." POOF--he was gone.
The second man immediately said,"I want to be back in Portland with my fiancé" and again in a flash he was gone.
The third man was left all alone sitting on the sandy beach. He said, "Boy, it really is lonely with my friends gone. I sure wish they were back here with me again. And POOF--
Be careful what you wish for.
Asaph wrote Psalm 73. He wrote it to explain what he saw as common among the wicked. In his day, the wicked often prospered. They took advantage of others to secure more wealth. They were willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Asaph discerned that the wicked people of his day tended to be “arrogant, though prosperous” (Psalm 73:3). Their bodies were healthy and fit (Psalm 73:4). Despite these outward signs of prosperity, the wealthy wicked people were also inwardly loathsome. They tended to be prideful, haughty, threatening, and filled with ill-will (Psalm 73:6-9). In Psalm 73:7, the scripture chosen for today, Asaph also mentioned that the wicked “have more than heart could wish”. Humorously, the New Living Translation of the Bible used these words for Psalm 73:7, “These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!” These “fat cats” of Asaph’s day got everything they wanted.
You may look at the wealthy and long for what they have. You might daydream of the day you win the lottery or inherit a million dollars. It is normal for humans to want an easy life of wealth and leisure. But what would that do to you? What cost might it convey to your soul? What if you got everything you wanted not only for Christmas, but for the rest of your life?
Upon viewing the wealthy people of His day, Jesus made a comment to His followers. He said, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24, ESV). Jesus discerned that as a person got more and more wealthy, they usually lost their faith. They wandered from God’s truth. Even King David succumbed to the temptations of wealth and ease (2 Samuel 11). Taking time off from his duties, he walked up to his roof and surveyed the area. His eyes set upon the wife of another man. Her name was Bathsheba. In no time, David got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, he had her husband Uriah murdered. What caused David’s downfall? A life of ease and luxury. He got what he wished for. It cost him dearly.
During this season of Christmas, people make out gift lists and wish lists. They write down what they long to receive. Sadly, some will receive things that will only cause harm. They might receive exactly what they wished for, but its not what they really needed.
A man was injured on the job. His machine at the plant caught his shirt sleeve and mangled his hand. It resulted in the loss of two fingers and numbness in another finger. The company paid for all medical costs and for all time off. They were very generous. However, when the plant manager came with papers to sign releasing liability, the man went to an expensive lawyer. The lawyer researched the plant and found issues with safety. The lawyer asked the man to complain about other health issues related to the injury. The lawyer convinced the man that he could win a settlement of over a million dollars. In the end, the man did win a huge settlement. Sadly, it also wrecked his life.
Because of the lawsuit, no company would hire the man. Also, because of the windfall of money, the man’s relatives began to beg for money. As the years wore on, the man no longer worked, no longer spoke to most of his family, and regretted not having a reason to get up in the morning. He grew fat. He had more and more arguments with his wife. The two divorced. As he hit his sixties, the man was a lost soul, alone, and clinically depressed. He still had a big bank account, but nothing brought him joy anymore.
Be careful what you wish for.
Very few people can handle wealth or power. Both have corruptive influences. Children who get everything they wish for often become selfish and self-centered. Poor people who win the lottery often die earlier in life (look it up!). Often, what we wish for is not what we really need; not what God sees as necessary. What we wish for may not even be good. Have you ever asked God not for what you wish for but what you need? Do you know the difference between wants and wishes, needs and desires?
This Christmas, I hope you do not get what you wish for. I hope you get what God has determined that you need to be faithful. I hope your eyes don’t get caught up with desires, but with grace and mercy. I hope you don’t give with strings attached but with love attached. When you get what you want, it may cost you. When you get what you truly need, your faith will blossom.
One of the men said, "Boy, I want to be back in Seattle with my wife and kids." POOF--he was gone.
The second man immediately said,"I want to be back in Portland with my fiancé" and again in a flash he was gone.
The third man was left all alone sitting on the sandy beach. He said, "Boy, it really is lonely with my friends gone. I sure wish they were back here with me again. And POOF--
Be careful what you wish for.
Asaph wrote Psalm 73. He wrote it to explain what he saw as common among the wicked. In his day, the wicked often prospered. They took advantage of others to secure more wealth. They were willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Asaph discerned that the wicked people of his day tended to be “arrogant, though prosperous” (Psalm 73:3). Their bodies were healthy and fit (Psalm 73:4). Despite these outward signs of prosperity, the wealthy wicked people were also inwardly loathsome. They tended to be prideful, haughty, threatening, and filled with ill-will (Psalm 73:6-9). In Psalm 73:7, the scripture chosen for today, Asaph also mentioned that the wicked “have more than heart could wish”. Humorously, the New Living Translation of the Bible used these words for Psalm 73:7, “These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!” These “fat cats” of Asaph’s day got everything they wanted.
You may look at the wealthy and long for what they have. You might daydream of the day you win the lottery or inherit a million dollars. It is normal for humans to want an easy life of wealth and leisure. But what would that do to you? What cost might it convey to your soul? What if you got everything you wanted not only for Christmas, but for the rest of your life?
Upon viewing the wealthy people of His day, Jesus made a comment to His followers. He said, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24, ESV). Jesus discerned that as a person got more and more wealthy, they usually lost their faith. They wandered from God’s truth. Even King David succumbed to the temptations of wealth and ease (2 Samuel 11). Taking time off from his duties, he walked up to his roof and surveyed the area. His eyes set upon the wife of another man. Her name was Bathsheba. In no time, David got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, he had her husband Uriah murdered. What caused David’s downfall? A life of ease and luxury. He got what he wished for. It cost him dearly.
During this season of Christmas, people make out gift lists and wish lists. They write down what they long to receive. Sadly, some will receive things that will only cause harm. They might receive exactly what they wished for, but its not what they really needed.
A man was injured on the job. His machine at the plant caught his shirt sleeve and mangled his hand. It resulted in the loss of two fingers and numbness in another finger. The company paid for all medical costs and for all time off. They were very generous. However, when the plant manager came with papers to sign releasing liability, the man went to an expensive lawyer. The lawyer researched the plant and found issues with safety. The lawyer asked the man to complain about other health issues related to the injury. The lawyer convinced the man that he could win a settlement of over a million dollars. In the end, the man did win a huge settlement. Sadly, it also wrecked his life.
Because of the lawsuit, no company would hire the man. Also, because of the windfall of money, the man’s relatives began to beg for money. As the years wore on, the man no longer worked, no longer spoke to most of his family, and regretted not having a reason to get up in the morning. He grew fat. He had more and more arguments with his wife. The two divorced. As he hit his sixties, the man was a lost soul, alone, and clinically depressed. He still had a big bank account, but nothing brought him joy anymore.
Be careful what you wish for.
Very few people can handle wealth or power. Both have corruptive influences. Children who get everything they wish for often become selfish and self-centered. Poor people who win the lottery often die earlier in life (look it up!). Often, what we wish for is not what we really need; not what God sees as necessary. What we wish for may not even be good. Have you ever asked God not for what you wish for but what you need? Do you know the difference between wants and wishes, needs and desires?
This Christmas, I hope you do not get what you wish for. I hope you get what God has determined that you need to be faithful. I hope your eyes don’t get caught up with desires, but with grace and mercy. I hope you don’t give with strings attached but with love attached. When you get what you want, it may cost you. When you get what you truly need, your faith will blossom.