Psalm 73:5 English Standard Version (ESV) They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

Because we are examining emotions during our adventure in Psalm 73, relevant meaning is only found in context. “They” is represented once again by the prosperous wicked.

Recent historical news might say to us, “the rich get away with murder.” That is judgment and if we are to judge rightly we must look deeper into events than the results. In some of those cases, not all, emotions played an important role in allowing a not guilty verdict.

A not guilty verdict is not a finding of innocence.

Jesus stood before His accusers and offered up not one plea of innocence. When confronted with an accusation that was enough to pronounce Him guilty He told the truth. “My Kingdom is not of this world.” This was the only accusation leveled at Him that He answered. On all the others He remained silent.

We may never discover the truth in all the matters of the world that trouble us. The relative issue here is what troubles us and why. We might not find scriptures that answer our troubling thoughts. The bible was not given to us to answer every issue. The bible can give us wisdom to help us deal with our emotions in troubling times. In this we are not like the wicked.

The prosperous can buy themselves out of worldly trouble. They are not troubled as we are. They cannot change the verdict before the courts of heaven.

John 14:1,27 English Standard Version (ESV) Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Give peace a chance.

Psalm 73:4a English Standard Version (ESV) For they have no pangs until death;

Continuing on from yesterday let us examine the issue of conscience.

The wicked in their success will not demonstrate a conscience about what they have done to win. When lie, cheat and steal are all part of a game with no rules, they have done nothing wrong.

Grace and mercy, honor and righteousness are how we live this life in Christ. Our conscience guides us to act rightly. No one who gains wealth will look at our efforts as winning. Love of money is everything to them.

When we aim to win Christ we play by a different set of rules. This is not a game, it is life. The wicked will only recognize that fact when they are confronted with death, and then it is too late.

1 Corinthians 9:21 English Standard Version (ESV) To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

We are under the law of love. The demands of love are much more stringent than any law spoken of in the commandments or in the laws of mankind. Love our neighbors no matter their condition or how they treat us. Pray for those who spitefully abuse us. Forgive others even if they do not seek it.

We will not find those rules in the playbook of the wicked. Win at all cost is their motto.

It will cost them their souls but they do not value their own souls. They might not even believe they have a soul. They do not live by our definitions, nor do we live by theirs.

The standard of living for the wicked is what they can take.

The standard of living in Christ is in what we can give.