Where Are We Looking?
Base Text: Psalm 73:3 (NKJV) “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Introduction: The Privilege and Peril of Sight
A. Our eyes are a marvelous gift from God. With them, we can behold the grandeur of His creation: the expanse of the sky, the brilliance of the stars, the sun, the moon, the rainbow, and all the beauty He has formed.
B. To see is a privilege that many do not possess, and for this, we owe God tremendous gratitude for the gift of sight.
C. But just as we can look upon the wonders of the Lord, we can also fix our gaze upon things that are displeasing to Him. The sense of sight, if not guarded and used correctly, can lead us directly into sin.
D. The Psalmist Asaph, in Psalm 73, gives us a raw, honest reflection on where his gaze had been focused. His experience leads us to ask the foundational question for our lives: Where are we looking?
I. We Can Look at the World
Text: Psalm 73:3–9
A. The Danger of Fixing Our Gaze on the Wicked
Asaph begins with a painful confession: “I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He wasn't looking at God; he was looking around him. By observing the apparent ease, health, and success of those who openly defied God, his heart was filled with confusion, bitterness, and doubt. He forgot that the prosperity of the world is temporary and utterly deceptive.
B. The Believer Must Not Envy Sinners
The Scriptures consistently warn us away from this dangerous comparison:
• “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 37:1). Why? “For evildoers shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:9).
• Proverbs echoes this mandate: “Do not let your heart envy sinners” (Proverbs 23:17). and “Do not envy the oppressor” (Proverbs 3:31).
C. The World Offers Only Passing Pleasures
When we look at the world, we are looking at vanity. “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15–17).
Application: If our eyes are fixed on the wealth, the temporary pleasures, or the apparent success of the wicked, we will inevitably jeopardize our communion and contentment in God. Where is your gaze fixed: on the fading glitter of the world, or on the eternal glory of Christ?
II. We Can Look at Ourselves
Text: Psalm 73:13–14
A. Asaph’s Introspection Led to Doubt
When Asaph shifted his gaze away from the world’s success, he didn't immediately look to God; he looked inward. He concluded: “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.” He began to believe that living a life of purity and devotion was meaningless and without reward.
B. The Error of Introspection Without Faith
Like Asaph, many believers become discouraged when they look solely at their own efforts and circumstances, thinking that serving God “is not worth the pain.” Job faced this same temptation (Job 21:15; 34:9). But the Apostle Paul reminds us with absolute certainty: “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
C. Self-Focus Produces Frustration and Failure
When we center our focus on our own resources, strength, or spiritual progress, we invite defeat:
• Peter failed when he trusted his own certainty that he would never deny Christ (Matthew 26:33–35).
• Goliath trusted his own massive strength and armor and was instantly defeated (1 Samuel 17:44).
• The church of Laodicea looked at itself and proudly declared, “I have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17), yet in God’s sight, they were poor, blind, and naked.
Application: When we center our gaze on ourselves, we lose divine perspective. Our ego and self-reliance will inevitably lead to failure, but placing our faith entirely in God leads us to triumph.
III. We Can Look at God
Text: Psalm 73:17–20
A. The Psalmist’s Turnaround
Asaph’s confusion and bitterness lasted only “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end” (Psalm 73:17). The turning point was not a change in his circumstances, but a change in his focus. Only when he returned his gaze to God did he understand the truth: the wicked's prosperity is temporary, like standing on slippery ground, destined for destruction.
B. Looking to God Brings Understanding and Hope
When we look at God, our perspective shifts from the temporal to the eternal. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). As Christ taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Looking at God means looking toward eternity, not toward the fleeting moments of this life.
C. Our Gaze Must Be Fixed on Christ
Our constant direction must be toward Jesus Christ, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He is faithful, He is just, and He never fails (2 Timothy 2:13). He is the anchor for our soul, the only stability in a chaotic world.
Application: When we look to God, we find rest, purpose, and the final victory. Only a persistent, constant gaze upon the Lord will rescue us from the confusion of the world and the discouragement of our own hearts.
See also
Conclusion: The Choice of Focus
A. Every day, we are faced with three choices for our focus:
1. Look at the World → This produces envy, frustration, and sin.
2. Look at Ourselves → This produces spiritual pride, self-reliance, and eventual defeat.
3. Look at God → This produces faith, clarity, understanding, and eternal victory.
B. Asaph finally understood that only by looking at God would he find peace, purpose, and lasting hope.
C. If your gaze has been fixed on the world’s glitter or on your own limitations, lift it up today toward God.
D. For when our eyes are fixed on God, our hearts are focused on heaven, and our steps are firm in the truth.
