5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

Here we go, let the rich bashing begin. “Boycott Amazon!”, “Boycott Wal-Mart!”, “Boycott Elon Musk!”. Nope, that is not where this devotion is going. Sure, the psalmist is encouraging people to fear not when they are being oppressed by the rich; being cheated, but rich bashing other people is not what we ought to be doing. We can not point our fingers and say, “They are the problem”. No, that is not where we are going.

“So where are you going, Pastor?” You see, you cannot point your finger at the rich and sit smugly, thinking that you are not like them; that you have a higher sense of morality and ethics. The fact of the matter is that you and I are counted among the rich. You may not have the bank account of Elon Musk, but you are blessed nonetheless and thus you and I need to pay attention.

What convicts me in this Psalm is verse 5, “…those who cheat me surround me.” How have I cheated those around me? You see, God blesses you that you may bless others. You are blessed with Spiritual gifts to bless your church. You are blessed with talents to help others. You are blessed with knowledge to help your community. You are blessed with resources to help those who can not help themselves. But too often I find myself like the rich landowner who builds bigger barns to horde his stuff.

When you withhold your God-given blessings, keeping them for yourself, you cheat those that God wants to bless through you. Have you looked at it that way before? I haven’t, but I will now. Your blessings are not because of any worthiness of your own. Your blessings have a purpose, a God-glorifying purpose.

[Pastor, don’t go there]

Sorry, I have to. Thus when you withhold your blessings, you not only cheat others, you cheat God.

[You went there]

Yup, but what now? What will you do with what God has blessed you with?

LET US PRAY: Father God, You have blessed me to be a blessing, but all too often I get short-sighted and only think of myself. I confess that sin and ask that You may grant me repentance, and the faith see what You have given me and whom You want to bless through me. Help me, God, honor You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.