and what do we profit by keeping his command,
And going about in penitential dress
in awe of the LORD of hosts?
We think we're better than these complainers, don't we? We are OK with the wicked prospering. We know that we are doing what we should. It isn't supposed to result in us getting rich. Preachers on TV promising fancy sports cars and mansions on tropical islands are missing the point. We style ourselves ascetics, thinking ourselves above such things, looking down on those who seek them.
But then we hear...
And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
...and we realize that we aren't as OK with the wicked prospering as we thought. We aren't praying for the extremes that some people might be. But we are frustrated to see prayers unfulfilled. Yet the wicked do seem to prosper. They seem to have less to worry about because of the riches of this world. We have what we believe to be genuine problems that we think are good things to pray about. But we don't receive answers while the wicked solve these problems with their wealth. This is so in spite of the fact that we are promised that if we simply ask we will receive.
Maybe we're still asking wrongly.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (cf. Jam. 4:3)
Sure, we aren't asking for sports cars or Dolce and Gabbana bags. Even so, maybe we're still asking to put the flesh before the Spirit. Maybe we are insisting on a healing of body when the LORD is more concerned about a soul. Maybe we're more concerned about meeting our financial obligations and less concerned about our obligations to the LORD. Let's not complain until we get our priorities straight. When we seek first the kingdom our prayers are filled with power. It is a power to bring blessings which last, which the waves of time cannot sweep away.
And a record book was written before him
of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name.
And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts,
my own special possession, on the day I take action.
We discover with the psalmist that we are truly blessed in we hope in the LORD and seek his kingdom first. Eventually, those who seem to thrive on this world's goods will exhaust their resources. Entropy ensures that the game they are playing has no winners.
Then you will again see the distinction
between the just and the wicked;
Between the one who serves God,
and the one who does not serve him.
What of us? Does that mean we should only seek the spiritual? No, but we must seek the kingdom first and everything else second. When we seek first the kingdom the LORD really does take care of the rest. And we are able to ease our grip on just what that should look like. If we do this we do not envy the wicked when they prosper. We are too preoccupied with the promises of God to notice. We are standing in the light of the Son.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.
We are too full of his blessings even here and now to fault him when he disappoints our desires for the temporary goods of this earth.
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
Now we have all we need to bear fruit in due season. Now our roots go so deep that our leaves will never fade.
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