Psalm 73:2-3 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Asaph admits that he was losing his grip, or his footing, when he saw the prosperity of the unbeliever. His response was sinful envy: “I want what they have.” Envy is one of the seven deadly sins, deadly because it leads us away from God and life and finally to eternal death. 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through craving that some have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Note that it is not money itself that is evil but the love of money. Greed and envy is the problem that we confess, and this is endemic to all people, whether rich or poor. It takes God’s grace to forgive and God’s Spirit to overcome. It is through the Gospel that we recognize the sinful response, repent, receive forgiveness, and have the power to overcome.
Two strong themes wind their way through this Psalm: 1) the wicked prosper, leaving the godly to wonder why they bother to be good, and 2) the wealth of the wicked looks so inviting that the faithful wish they could trade places. But these two themes come to unexpected ends: wealth loses its power at death, and the rewards of the godly take on eternal value.
We respond to earthly poverty by focusing on true heavenly riches, and the Spirit grants faith to see the End.