Day 843: Worthless things - Psalm 119 vs 33-40

33-35 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

36-37 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Psalm 119:33-40 English Standard Version

All through Psalm 119 we see the yearning of someone who is God fearing. And in vs 33-35 we see their longing for God to be their teacher, and to give them understanding in His wonderful commandments. This longing is ultimately fulfilled in what we read in John 14:15-17. Jesus said to his disciples “If you love me, you will keep my commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth.” God delights to answer the soul that thirsts for Him. So what is it that so often keeps men and women from this deeper, closer relationship with the Lord? (vs 36-37)

Is it not the many worthless things we often run after, and which take up so much of our focus and time? These things may not be evil in themselves, but just harmless pastimes. It could be sports, fashion, even hobbies. But even such things can take a hold on our lives and water down our zeal for the things of God.

But there are other pursuits which the writer refers to as being chased after 'for selfish gain'. The apostle Paul put it well when he said: “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10) Whether it's fortune or fame, both are worthless compared to a rich relationship with Christ and being led daily by His Spirit.

What’s another thing that may discourage someone form earnestly desiring to follow God with all their heart, and putting His words into daily practice? (vs 39)

Is it not the reproach of our fellow man? It may be the writer was thinking here of the accusations Satan might bring against him in areas where he had failed. But it's also true that we don't like being mocked by people, or being accused of being 'too fanatic' or 'a religious freak'. A paraphrased Bible version puts the apostle Peter's words to believers in his day like this. He says: “You have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. You've lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols. Now your former friends wonder why you have stopped running around with them, and they curse you for it.” (1 Peter 4:2-4) Those who seek to love God and follow His words wholeheartedly must be prepared for reproach. But that is still better than living a life chasing after worthless things!

So what is the path we should take in order to live faithfully according to God's word in a world that is full of many worthless things? The answer is surely that we need to seek God's strength daily. In today's section the writer asks God to 'teach him', to 'give him an understanding heart', to 'lead him' in the right path, to 'incline his heart' to God's teachings, and to 'turn his eyes' from being seduced by worthless things. There's a real sense in which those are all things he needs to do himself. We need to turn our eyes from worthless things, and we need to incline our hearts to God's word. But if we are as honest as the Psalm writer was, we know we need God's enabling to do these things. That's what Romans Chapter 7 is all about. The struggle we have to do the things we know are right. May God strengthen us daily to love Him and His word, and to resist the lure of worthless things.