“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
— Psalm 73:25–26 (NIV)

Psalm 73 is blunt. It’s honest. It begins with confusion and frustration—but ends with clarity and peace. And for believers walking through this fallen world, it is a reminder we desperately need.

Asaph, the psalmist, starts out admitting what many of us are too ashamed to say aloud: he was jealous. Jealous of the wicked. Jealous of their wealth. Jealous of how easy their lives seemed. He saw the arrogant thriving, and it nearly shook his faith.

“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
— Psalm 73:3

Can you relate? How many times have we looked around and asked, “Why do they seem to have it all, while I struggle?” It’s easy to forget the truth: this world is not our home, and this life is not the reward.

When we were very, very young, we were content with everything our parents provided for us. Whatever food, whatever toys, whatever comforts we were given, we were grateful for, and we found great joy in all of it. Then, we began to experience what the world had to offer. Commercials, advertisements, and the possessions of others inspired us to believe that we needed more. This isn’t growing up, it is becoming corrupted. This concept is often a hindrance to our faith. We were once satisfied by the joy of our salvation and needed nothing more from the Lord. Over time however, the pleasures of this world can overcome that comfort and convince us that we need more. We don’t need more, we want more.

We Were Never Promised Comfort

Jesus was clear—“In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). He never promised us riches, ease, or approval. He promised persecution. He promised trials. But He also promised Himself—and He is enough.

Asaph’s turning point came when he entered the sanctuary of God. That’s when his vision cleared. That’s when he saw the end—not just the moment.

“Then I understood their final destiny.”
— Psalm 73:17

The prosperity of the wicked is fleeting. Temporary. Shaky. It looks good now, but it cannot stand before a holy God. And more importantly—it’s not for us. The wealth, status, and praise of this world belong to a system that is passing away. Why would we envy a kingdom that’s already crumbling?

Eternity Over Envy

Jealousy isn’t just a bad habit—it’s a sin. It reveals a heart that has lost its perspective. When we envy the world, we’re saying that what God has given us isn’t enough. But He is enough.

“God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Let that sink in: He is our portion. Not wealth. Not comfort. Not a smooth life. Him. And once we grasp that, our envy fades, because our eyes are no longer on what the world has—but on Who we have.

Be Content With What God Has Given

As believers, we walk alongside people who have been rejected by the world’s system. Many come from lives marked by addiction, crime, abuse, and spiritual poverty. But through Christ, they’ve been given something the world could never offer: hope, peace, and an eternal inheritance.

You don’t need to chase the world’s treasures. You already have the greatest treasure—Jesus Himself.

So don’t waste your energy coveting a life that isn’t yours and isn’t eternal. Be content. Be grateful. Be grounded in the promise that what’s coming is far better than what’s passing away.

This life is over in the blink of an eye. The Kingdom is forever.

*Image Credit “Sing a Song of Gladness” Arch Books, 1974