Psalms 73:3-5,12

"For I envied the arrogant
     when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
     their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
     they are not plagued by human ills...
This is what the wicked are like—
     always free of care, they go on amassing wealth."

Those who prosper are not necessarily well off.  One may look at a rich man and say "Oh, you have been blessed by God!  He has surely shown you favor!" but it is not so.  Prosperity is no gift to those who are perishing.  Wealth is no blessing to those who need salvation.

For them, God has extended grace and they have refused it, choosing instead to chase after material wealth.  They amass riches by their own strength, not through God's blessing. They acquire health through their wealth, not by divine favor or fortune.  God has shown them salvation and they have slapped away his hand.

As Christians, the more money we desire from God, the less we desire God himself.  God does indeed bless his children, and sometimes with wealth, but those he has blessed with wealth have already proven they can use it appropriately for God's kingdom.  Those trustworthy with a little money can be trusted with larger and larger amounts.  God always blesses so that we in turn can bless in kindness and generosity.  God gives so that we can give back, not to amass wealth and be carefree.  Such is wickedness.

Matthew 25:15

"To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability."


Sometimes we get disappointed with our own ministries because we try to spend five talents when we've only been given one.  We can easily stretch ourselves too thin, trying to do everything but being effective at nothing.  Sometimes we even try to do too much at a time and we end up exhausted with a pile of things all over the floor.

God has indeed gifted some more than he's gifted others, each according to their ability, but there is no reason to be jealous and to try and act as if we are more capable than we are.  God has given us only what we can handle!  This is a blessing to delight in, not a reason to covet the blessedness of others.  So what if you cannot physically do as much as others or you cannot speak as well as others, God has only ever asked of you to do the best with what you have been given.  You can still be an encourager, a prayer warrior, a companion to the poor and destitute, and a friend of sinners.

Remember that no one owns the talents they work with, all of it is a gift from God, so keep watch as he might return at any day.  Remember that the worst thing you can do is not to do anything.