How does entering God's sanctuary change our perspective on worldly success? setting the scene: envy outside the sanctuary • Asaph opens Psalm 73 wrestling with a troubling picture: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (v. 3). • He watches their apparent success—healthy bodies, carefree lives, swelling bank accounts—and feels faith wobble. • When earthly metrics rule the heart, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure” (v. 13) seems reasonable. stepping inside: the turning point (Psalm 73 :17) “until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” • One step into God’s presence flips the narrative. • The sanctuary—place of sacrifice, atonement, and revelation—lifts Asaph from horizontal comparisons to vertical clarity. • Perspective changes not by new information about the wicked, but by fresh vision of God. what the sanctuary reveals about worldly success • Limited shelf-life – “Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73 :18). – Success without righteousness is a mirage; collapse is certain. • Divine justice, not human scoreboards, decides the outcome – “How suddenly they are laid waste” (v. 19). – God’s timetable may appear slow to us, never to Him. • Eternal values eclipse temporal trophies – Inside the sanctuary the eternal covenant, blood-covered mercy seat, and continual worship say: God Himself is the prize. • My true treasure is relational, not material – “Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You” (v. 25). supporting voices from the rest of scripture • Psalm 37 :1-2 — “Do not fret… they wither quickly like grass.” • Job 21 :7-13 — The wicked may laugh now, yet “in a moment they go down to Sheol.” • Matthew 6 :19-21 — Store treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroy. • Colossians 3 :1-2 — “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” • 1 John 2 :15-17 — Worldly desires are passing away, but “whoever does the will of God remains forever.” living today with sanctuary vision • Prioritize regular, reverent worship—public and private. Perspective follows presence. • Measure success by faithfulness to God’s revealed will, not by headlines, salaries, or follower counts. • Celebrate the prosperity of others when it honors God; grieve when it feeds pride, knowing the end of that path. • Hold resources loosely, investing them for kingdom impact: generosity, missions, justice, mercy. • Remind your heart daily: “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73 :26). closing insight The sanctuary does not remove us from the world; it re-orients us within it. When eyes are fixed on the eternal King, worldly success shrinks to proper size, and envy gives way to worship. |
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