Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19970223.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Sixty-Two - The Key To Making A Comfortable Living
(Psalm 62:1-12)
  1. Introduction
    1. Making a comfortable income and maintaining position and respect all seem to go together. One cannot get income unless he has respect in the form of a good resume or credibility with customers as a self-employed entrepreneur.
    2. There is a wrong way to seek the influence, respect and comfortable income level, and there is a right way to go about it. Psalm Sixty-Two contrasts the two as follows:
  2. The Key To Making A Comfortable Living, Psalm 62:1-12.
    1. Psalm 62 was David's approach to facing godless entrepreneurs who sought to topple David's position to acquire his wealth as their own.
      1. Beginning in verses 1-2 and again with their repetition in verses 5-6, David affirmed that God alone was His Rock and Rescue Source and protective Fortress against those who would attack his security.
      2. The threat to David's security was people who sought to undermine David at his weak points by slander and intrigue so they could extort his accumulating wealth:
        1. Some opponents were after David to topple him from his position as a leader in Israel, v. 3.
        2. They were seeking to do so by maliciously undermining his credibility before his subjects through intrigue and slander, Ps. 62:4.
        3. Their goal was to steal what was coming to David for their own coffers, v. 9-10 implied.
    2. David thus revealed the futility of such false efforts to gain wealth, and contrasted it with the right way:
      1. The WRONG way to get ahead financially was to undermine another's credibility so as to acquire his wealth for one's coffers, Ps. 62:9-12:
        1. Whether one is very wealthy and influential with men or very poor and of low social status, both alike really carry no financial stability in their own human resources, Ps. 62:9.
        2. This is because influence, a good reputation and the stable income that comes with it are underwritten only by the providential working of God in the affairs of men, Ps. 62:11.
        3. Thus, if one gains or seeks to gain wealth by abusing others, God will judge him, Ps. 62:12 implied.
      2. The RIGHT way to get ahead financially is to lean entirely upon God rather than income ITSELF for security, and everything we need for a decent livelihood then falls into place:
        1. Influence, a good reputation and the comfortable livelihood that goes with these blessings are in the hand of GOD, Ps. 62:11,12b.
        2. Also, GOD is always loyal to His promises regarding the welfare of His people (Ps. 62:11-12a).
        3. He also COMPENSATES people according to their work in life, Ps. 62:12b.
        4. Thus, if one fully relies upon the LORD Who provides what the believer needs and just performs God's works well (Ps. 62:8,12b) rather than seeking security in wealth ITSELF, which false trust leads to sinful accumulation methods in business (Ps. 62:10), he finds all he needs by way of honor and resulting steady, comfortable income are met, Ps. 62:7,12b.
Lesson: (1) It is not WEALTH ITSELF that produces a comfortable living, for viewing wealth ITSELF as our basis for a comfortable life can lead to abusive dealings to acquire it that result in God's COSTLY discipline, Ps. 62:10, 3-4, 11-12! (2) Rather, the REAL security behind a comfortable livelihood is GOD, for (a) HE controls BOTH our INCOME (b) AND the degree we are HONORED in business RELATIONSHIPS that affect our ability to MAKE a comfortable living, Ps. 62:11-12 with 1 Tim. 6:17c!

Application: The believer needs to treat money like vitamin D-producing sunshine in winter: though he needs it for his health, he must look to God alone for its arrival, thank God when it comes and get outside to use it when it comes, cf. 1 Tim. 6:10! Money is only a TEMPORARY means of EXCHANGE in a world system that is passing awa y; thus, we must not ABUSE its use, but use it for what will last in eternity to come, 1 Cor. 7:31; 1 John 2:17; 1 Tim. 6:17-19!