Optical Illusion

Wanting Something Better “ Is it a sin to seek something better for my family?” The question is a valid one. But the main concern is why did that person asked that question? What is his description or idea of a better life? Where did he get that idea? Why did he consider his life less acceptable than the other?

“ Is it a sin to seek something better for my family?”

The question is a valid one.

But the main concern is why did that person asked that question?

What is his description or idea of a better life?

Where did he get that idea?

Why did he consider his life less acceptable than the other?

Wanting Something Better Our dissatisfactions of our life is brought of something we have seen from somebody else. Then we ask ..”why do they have it and we Christians don’t?… then we ask God has been blessing you….. Really Where is it? To us Christians , we can live with this idea that there is always a better thing that is not ours and maybe that is how God has designed it. But when we see this better thing with people whom we perceived are not deserving, that’s when we start grumbling and complaining. And with this in our hearts, our relationship with God turns bland.

Our dissatisfactions of our life is brought of something we have seen from somebody else.

Then we ask ..”why do they have it and we Christians don’t?… then we ask God has been blessing you….. Really Where is it?

To us Christians , we can live with this idea that there is always a better thing that is not ours and maybe that is how God has designed it. But when we see this better thing with people whom we perceived are not deserving, that’s when we start grumbling and complaining. And with this in our hearts, our relationship with God turns bland.

Fret “ Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;” (Psalm 37:1) Fret - a state of nervous or irritated concern. It is something that eats you up. Tagalog- “mabalisa”. Fret is something that doesn’t happen in one day… it is a lingering thing that we harbor in our heart. Why is the psalmist telling us not to fret? Because it’s something we do and maybe we are not conscious of it.

“ Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;” (Psalm 37:1)

Fret - a state of nervous or irritated concern. It is something that eats you up. Tagalog- “mabalisa”.

Fret is something that doesn’t happen in one day… it is a lingering thing that we harbor in our heart.

Why is the psalmist telling us not to fret? Because it’s something we do and maybe we are not conscious of it.

Who are the People We Fret About Who are these evil men we fret about; - Politicians - High Society criminals - A neighbor of ours - A friend - A Love one

Who are these evil men we fret about;

- Politicians

- High Society criminals

- A neighbor of ours

- A friend

- A Love one

How Does It Affect Us? Physically - not much Emotionally – you are in perpetual anger and concern you are bothered every time that person gains something and then you look to yourself ,,,and ask What about me? You develop self pity. Illustration; Spiritually – our fellowship with God suffers, We start to feel that God is not playing fair. - We will pray less - Attend bible study less - Our worships becomes dry We start asking “is God really concern about me?” - Doubts set in - Tendency to seek answers from other things – Worldly - Look for another “god” We may reach a point to even question His very existence - Start to achieve things on our own – the end justifies the means.

Physically - not much

Emotionally – you are in perpetual anger and concern

you are bothered every time that person gains something and then you look to yourself ,,,and ask What about me?

You develop self pity.

Illustration;

Spiritually – our fellowship with God suffers,

We start to feel that God is not playing fair.

- We will pray less

- Attend bible study less

- Our worships becomes dry

We start asking “is God really concern about me?”

- Doubts set in

- Tendency to seek answers from other things – Worldly

- Look for another “god”

We may reach a point to even question His very existence

- Start to achieve things on our own – the end justifies the means.

What should we do if start fretting? Trust in the Lord PS 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 2. Delight yourself in the Lord PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 3. Commit your ways to the Lord PS 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD;trust in him and he will do this: PS 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Trust in the Lord

PS 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

2. Delight yourself in the Lord

PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

3. Commit your ways to the Lord

PS 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD;trust in him and he will do this:

PS 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

What should we do if start fretting? 4. Be still before the Lord PS 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. PS 37:34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. 5. Refrain from anger PS 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.

4. Be still before the Lord

PS 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

PS 37:34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

5. Refrain from anger

PS 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.

Why should we not fret? The Wicked is be destroyed PS 37:2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. PS 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. PS 37:20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.

The Wicked is be destroyed

PS 37:2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

PS 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

PS 37:20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.

Why should we not fret? 2. God will honor our convictions PS 37:23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; PS 37:24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

2. God will honor our convictions

PS 37:23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

PS 37:24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Why should we not fret? 3. Eternal Provisions PS 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

3. Eternal Provisions

PS 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

Why should we not fret? 4. Perpetual Protection PS 37:28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; PS 37:29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

4. Perpetual Protection

PS 37:28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

PS 37:29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Why should we not fret? 5. The Lord is our refuge PS 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. PS 37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

5. The Lord is our refuge

PS 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

PS 37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Remember This is not our world. Do not get too attached to this place, the bible said in a twinkling of an eye all of us will be gone and this place will be ravaged by war, famine and disease. Do not depend or always be amazed of what you see… Remember as Christians we were told to Live by Faith and Not by Sight! Everything is an illusion… do not let your eyes deceive you.

This is not our world.

Do not get too attached to this place, the bible said in a twinkling of an eye all of us will be gone and this place will be ravaged by war, famine and disease.

Do not depend or always be amazed of what you see…

Remember as Christians we were told to Live by Faith and Not by Sight!

Everything is an illusion… do not let your eyes deceive you.