Vian Baptist Church
Psalms 17:14-15 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. As I was growing up, we didn’t have much by some standards. My dad had three brothers and two sisters. We traded thiings between the family. It was mostly labor, we we also did things for each other. One year we raised 100 chickens. When they were as fat as they were going to get (about 6 months) the family gathered at our farm and we set up an assembly line. One brother caught and another knocked them in the head. My dad and I had the stinky job of dunking the chickens in the hot water and pulling off feathers. We got the bulk of them off then my sister ran the plucked chickens into the house. The women were in the house to process the chicken, wrap them in freezer paper and put them in the freezer.
Another of my uncles raised turkeys. The week before thanksgiving, we sent each of this brothers and sisters their Thanksgiving turkey, then sold the remainder. Another raised hogs.
Basically we traded off work because we were a family.
There are choices in this life and there are trade offs. May family worked together for the benefit of all, but there are some that would trade off part of their heritage like Esau did to Jacob. He sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage.
Now in our test there are two types of people. In verse 14, we see the prosperous with their full bellies and full of children. It is Gods blessing that they never actually realize comes from God. God is the one that allows prosperity and children and substance to accumulate to leave to their grandchildren. But our text tells us that “their portion in this life”. They are seeking to prosper here on earth and God allows it.
Some see this blessing of God as something to envy. We want to prosper and be well respected for our moneys sake. Asaph ( the collector) saw and was troubled.
Psalms 73:3 “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
As in our text “their portion in this life” is all they are going to have of pleasantness and prosperity. Asaph continues: Psalms 73:16-18 “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.”
You see, this world is the best that will ever happen for them.
The Psalmist saw this for what it was and in verse 15 of our text describes what a Christian has to look forward to in the afterlife. Psalms 17:15 “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Oh, that we were able to bear that likeness while here on this earth. How many would we persuade to think more of heaven (eternity-that means forever) and less of this short time on earth.
Don’t trade off a wonderful eternity for a brief stint of prosperity here on earth. A song comes to mind.
Living for Jesus
Living for Jesus a life that is true; Striving to please Him in all that I do. Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Living for Jesus who died in my place, Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace, Such love constrains me to answer His call, Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Living for Jesus thro’ earths little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile, Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
Chorus: Oh, Jesus, Lord and Saviour, I give myself to thee; For Thou In thine atonement, Didst give Thyself for me. I own no other master, My heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, hence-fortn to live, O Christ for thee alone.
