Living by Faith
So often in life we don't see the results of God's activity in this world immediately, and questions abound in our minds. Is it really better to do good? Would I be better off is I just sinned like everyone else? Where can I find real joy in life? These—and many more—are all the questions people struggle with day after day. As Christians, we believe that God is the ultimate answer to all; that "all things work together for good." But, how are we supposed to react? How do we live this?
David, in Psalm 37, gives five practical things we are to do in order to live by faith.
"Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb" (37:1-2). First, don't worry just because you see ungodly people getting ahead in this world. That's the way things are going to be here—Satan is the ruler of this world (John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2), and he advances the cause of his people while they are here. Scripture promises, however, that there will be a day of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) where the righteous will receive their reward. Instead, we are to "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness" (37:3).
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (37:4). While things in this world may not always go our way, that is not to discourage our hearts. Why not? Because there is still God. David tells us we live by faith when we "delight" in Him. He is to be our joy. When we contemplate His love, wisdom, guidance, power and holiness, we find the "peace which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
Third—commit. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday" (37:5-6). Both Joshua and Elijah called on the Israelites of old to commit to serving God and stop "limping between two different opinions" (1 Kings 18:21). So many of our struggles in life come because we still entertain other options in the back of our minds. We decide moment by moment whether we will serve God or not, rather than letting our initial decision at baptism to guide our lives. Set your heart toward God and don't look back (Luke 9:62).
Then, David writes, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (37:7). Be patient. We won't always see the reward on earth, but that is nothing new. Abraham and all the great heroes of faith lived the same way (Hebrews 11). Let God act as He chooses to act; let Him judge when He chooses to judge. Our reward will come when God views the time as right. Wait.
Lastly, "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil" (37:8). I know how easy it is to think that the wicked are just "getting away with everything;" that "something has to be done" about all the injustices that take place around us. It is easy to get angry at lawlessness, corrupt officials, and clear injustices. All of these one day will collide with God and will crumble into dust.
The psalm ends with these words of comfort, "In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace" (37:10-11).
Five simple things: Don't worry; delight in God; commit yourself to Him; be patient and stay calm. Thousands of years later, this advice still hold true.
