Part Three: God Blesses the Upright

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11

I’ve struggled with jealousy and envy at times in my life.
Perhaps you have as well.

Ever looked at wealthy (and/or wicked) people and envied their prosperity and possessions?

Ever studied people with perverse lifestyles and marveled at their phenomenal physical health?

I still shake my head in disbelief when obnoxious rich teenagers in luxury sports cars pull up next to me at stoplights.

But God dealt with my heart.
He changed my perspective.
His Word taught me that envy is like a cancer that eats at your life:

“A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
but envy the rottenness of the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30)

“But godliness with contentment
is great gain.”
(1 Timothy 6:6)

Satan is the tempter of mankind who seeks to divert our eyes from God and eternity. His goal is to get us mired in sin and lust for the things of this world…because in so doing He knows that we forfeit our blessings from God, because God WILL NOT bless sin.

But if we walk uprightly, then God is able to freely bless and prosper us as He sees fit.

It doesn’t matter who has more money, better health, or fancier cars…those things will eventually be spent, lose strength, or rust away.

“Good things” from God aren’t always the finest things of the world…they’re often the simple things that are most appreciated by a thankful heart.

Perhaps today we’ll eat food, wear clothes, enjoy warmth, drink clean water, read a Bible, and use electricity…but many people in the world won’t have any of those blessings.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

I’m thankful for little things today. And I’m thankful for the promise that if I walk uprightly (honest and blameless) before Him, He’ll be able to bless my life.