Proverbs 24.19-20
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
Spiritual vertigo is a real thing. It happens when we stop focusing on the Lord and we become disoriented.
It can be very tempting to be jealous of the prosperity enjoyed by wicked people, and this proverb warns us to avoid envy at all costs. So does Psalm 73, where the psalmist candidly self-discloses his resentment of wicked people who appear to be living lives of care-free luxury.
“Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73.1-3)
His envy distorted his perception and distracted him from the path of God’s kingdom. He lost his kingdom focus and became disoriented. He experienced spiritual vertigo, became disoriented, and slipped and stumbled.
“For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.” (Psalm 73.4-5)
By outward appearance, the wicked seem to be enjoying all the good things of life, while having none of the problems and pains that normal people experience. Of course, this is only the outward appearance, and it is greatly exaggerated. But this is the kind of distorted perception that occurs when you are caught in the grip of envy and resentment. You don’t see clearly, and you experience spiritual vertigo.
“Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.” (Psalm 73.7-9)
The wicked were also arrogant and abusive, even to the point of speaking blasphemously against the Lord. Their worldly prosperity deceived them into thinking they didn’t need God. The irony in this situation is that the ungodly were disoriented in their lifestyle, but the worldly prosperity they experienced triggered the envy of the psalmist, which then disoriented his perception and thinking. He was disoriented by disoriented people.
Once again, what you focus on matters. Just because something gets your attention, doesn’t mean it deserves your attention.
“Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.” (Psalm 73.12-14)
The psalmist looks around and sees faithless people living opulent lives of comfort and prosperity, and he wonders if he has wasted his life seeking to obey God’s standards. The way of self-centered prosperity didn’t seem to have the challenges and rebukes that are a necessary part of learning to walk with God.
What brought him back to clarity was coming before the Lord in worship. He stopped looking at the prosperity of the wicked, and he set his eyes and his heart on God.
“But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” (Psalm 73.16-17)
With his eyes and heart brought back into proper focus, he acknowledges the truth about the Lord and those who refuse to follow him. He once again saw clearly the source of true wealth and happiness.
“For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm 73.27-28)
