City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . . .28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 73:25-26, 28 (NASB)

Reflection

Psalm 73 is a psalm for the mature, for when the body begins to fail and illusions fade.

It all started in my early-fifties when my always reliable and remarkably fit body entered a new and unexpected phase. First there were the stomach problems that baffled the doctors for years. Then there was the torn retina requiring two laser surgeries. I also developed a variety of skin issues. When I asked my dermatologist why, she answered with one word: “Age.”

If you are tempted to say, “Those things will never happen to me,” you should note that I work out six days per week, eat well, don’t smoke, and rarely drink. I pray and read my Bible daily, and I tithe faithfully. I’m doing all the right things. I’m just getting older, and as the psalmist wrote, “the flesh fails.” 

The thing about health problems is this: wherever you go, they go. You can’t escape them. They are not like an unpleasant person you can choose to avoid. I remember, upon entering this strange new phase, seeking some comfort from a mentor twenty years my senior. He told me, “Welcome to the NFL.”

So, if you don’t have your health, what do you have?

Application

While my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

For the Israelites of the psalmist’s day, their portion might be wealth, inheritance, or social status. For us it might be wealth, a successful career, or social media status. The problem is the same: all those things can fail in an instant. Welcome to the NFL.

Others make their portion the pursuit of an experience, believing that one great moment will finally satisfy. I watched as Indiana celebrated their college football national championship a few weeks ago. The reporters’ questions were predictable: “How does it feel?” “What are you feeling right now?” Winning a championship on a national stage is supposed to be as good as it gets. 

I’ve had my own versions of those moments. I was a basketball player on a Dallas, Texas high-school team that won district and played in the state tournament. I played on a college basketball team that won conference and went to the national tournament. These experiences were good, just not as good as advertised. Welcome to the NFL.

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. God’s presence is not the consolation prize. All these other things pale in comparison to experiencing the joy of God’s nearness.

The psalmist was right; when other things fail, God is not merely enough. He is the better portion.

Prayer

Lord,  be the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Amen.