Psalm 73 gives us a candid look at the allure of wealth. It describes those who chase riches, yet miss the bigger picture: "As for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." (Psalm 73:2-5) These verses show us how easy it is to envy a life of ease and health without burdens.
But the Psalm doesn't stop there. It warns about the emptiness of such pursuits: "They say, 'How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?' This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth." (Psalm 73:11-12)
What strikes me every time isn't just the caution against wealth, but the reminder of what truly matters: "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will take me into glory. 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 73:23-26)
These words keep our focus where it should be: not on what we can accumulate but on the eternal relationship that sustains us.