LET US GET IT STRAIGHT – “OF THUGS, BULLIES AND VILE PEOPLE”

We live in a world full of “blind” and “deaf” and “dumb” people. People have eyes, but can’t see. People have ears, but can’t hear. People have tongues, but can’t speak. “15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” – Matthew 11:15. Welcome to the fallen and broken world, where nothing works right. If at all someone tries to set things right, they will be mercilessly crushed. The life, suffering and cruel murder of the LORD Jesus Christ, by the “pious” religious leaders and their equally “pious” associates, is a very fine demonstrative example of evil filled and evil led human hearts.

We live in a world where might rules unashamedly, and the rules are for fools, who naively believe, it is a rules based order. How silly of us who hold to such illusionary notions in a fallen world? We get to see all kinds of bullies and thugs in the world, if only our eyes are able to see it. Some steal lands that belongs to other people, and call them their own countries. Some others steal precious natural resources like minerals, oil and gas, apart from transporting, selling and buying human beings as slaves, from lands which are not their own, to fuel and fund the “development” of their own countries, thousands of miles away from their own shores. Such acts are called “ingenious enterprise” of intelligent people, sometimes also called “chosen by god” to bring “enlightenment” to these dark and “dumb” people. This is the twisted world that we live in. This is the world in which a Christian, as the disciple of the LORD Jesus, is called to be an ambassador for our LORD and Master, mirroring Him, in all dimensions.

Let us look at Psalm 62:9-12 and see what lessons we can learn that would help us to be firm and faithful Christians, building our lives on the rock solid foundation laid out by the LORD Jesus Christ. Let us read Psalm 62:10, and see what lesson we can learn this morning.
– “10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.”

2- “OF THUGS, BULLIES AND VILE PEOPLE”
Bible, which is the written Word of God does not mince words. It speaks truth to our faces. Same is seen in Psalm 62:10. Small wonder people don’t like to read it.
– DO NOT TRUST IN OPPRESSION
We are called not trust or believe in oppression. We are not to oppress anyone. Oppression is evil and the trait of Satan. It is not a godly virtue. It is extortion by the thugs and the bullies.

– NOR VAINLY HOPE IN ROBBERY
We are clearly called not to rob, steal and dispossess anyone – “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet.” – Exodus 20:15,17. We are called to a life that reflects our LORD Jesus, the God of all creation. He came to give life…life abundantly. The thief, which is Satan, is one who comes to steal, kill and destroy – John 10:10-11. It is pretty obvious, isn’t it?

– IF RICHES INCREASE, DO NOT SET YOUR HEART ON THEM
Riches come to us, and they increase because of sharp and shrewd mind. If we earn our riches cleanly, without oppression and without robbery, it is a blessing. However, if we begin to love riches, and set our hearts on them, it will bring our sure destruction, which we may never see, untill it is too late. Dependence on riches is nothing but misplaced trust and confidence on riches, instead of God, even if they are earned with a clean heart. The Word of God clearly says, “The love of money is the root of all evil” – 1 Timothy 6:10

This is what the LORD has to say to all those who wish to walk the path “OF THUGS, BULLIES AND VILE PEOPLE” in the world.
– “9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. 11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool.” – Jeremiah 17:9-11

We are called to a life which is different from the rest of the world – a life NOT of CARNALITY, but a LIFE that FOLLOWS CHRIST our LORD. May we never ever forget this truth.
– “​1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4

May we never aspire to be “THUGS, BULLIES AND VILE PEOPLE” in our lives. The judgement of all such people will come from the LORD. It would be sure, certain and swift judgement. Let us, as the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ, walk faithfully and obediently in love, kindness and humility, all the days of our lives. Even so, the LORD help us.