My interpretation of Psalm 73 (the optimistic version)
When the wicked have no struggles, when they have no illnesses, they believe they can make it on their own. Pride comes in, they are invincible-what need is there for God?
When the wicked have no struggles, when they have no illnesses, they believe they can make it on their own. Pride comes in, they are invincible-what need is there for God?
When the wicked gain perceieved power from violence, what need is there for a higher power in their lives?
When their hearts have become hard and they judge injustly, what need is there for a judge, let alone a justifier, in their life?
Scoffing and slandering others leads to arrogance, so what need is there for God in their lives?
When they say "How can God know? Does he have knowledge?" of the evil that they do, they seemingly wash themselves clean from any guilt and, therefore, what need do they have for forgiveness?
They are carefree and unconscientious and therefore gain wealth by cheating. Why then do they need God for everlasting riches, when they believe they have their own wealth to rely on?
Why then do they need God to teach them anything if they do not care about learning? If all they need is themselves?
So we say we as Christians have followed Him in vain. "Look at what I got for following Him." Suffering. Pain. Loss. Brokeness. Being slandered against. But look what we gain. Perseverance. Strength. Appreciation. Humility. Patience.
Through these lessons, no matter how hard, He has brought us close to Him. We are the lucky ones.
Our human nature wants everything easy, everything carefree. Because of this we must be broken to truly appreciate life. If we did not suffer, how would we be humble enough to ask for help and seek Christ? If we do not seek power and fame, we realize the need for God in our lives. When our hearts have been softened by Him, there is no need to judge others because we realize we are no better than them. When we are the ones scoffed and slandered against, we realize the need for patience and appreciate that the Lord gives it to us, even in a situation where we alone could not have acted patiently or kindly on our own. When we must come broken to Christ and ask forgiveness rather than rationalize the guilt away, we realize how awesome He is that He gives His mercy freely, again and again. When we care and often lose worldy things, it makes our need for Christ even stronger, bringing us ultimately closer to Him, closer to His glory, closer to realizing our life is His and that it was nothing we did to deserve the things we have. Yes I do believe we are the fortunate ones. How else would we realize His importance if we're able to rely on ourselves and others 24-7? Suffering is God's nudge to say, "Come to me. I can help. All you have to do is rely on me. Place your trust in me." He is the only one that can bring about humble reliance and commitment to Him, so rejoice in the good times, of course, but also in the suffering, for He is teaching you.
