"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away."
                                                                (verse 1-2)

The Lord reminds us that things of this world are not eternal. Keep your eyes on the Lord. The Lord knows all your needs and He will provide for those needs. Not what we believe we need, but what He knows we need. It is amazing how we get caught up in comparing how successful we are compared to others and we begin to envy them, even when we know what they do may not be honourable before God. If we find ourselves envying others then we need to be honest to ourselves, recognise that what we are doing is not good for us and come before Him, confessing our weakness and asking the Holy Spirit to begin a work of sanctification to remove the stain of jealousy from our hearts. Psalm 199 is a fantastic psalm as it tells us precisely how to live correctly before the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
                                                            (verse 3-4)

The Key word here is "Delight". We should delight ourselves in our Lord and Saviour, there should be no other delight in our world that could even come close to the delight that we have in spending time with Him. We take joy in the life He has given us but we should delight in our relationship with Him. His promises are all that we need; dwell in the land and ENJOY SAFE pasture and the desires of your heart will be given to you. What does God ask us to do? Trust in Him and do good. It is always a good discipline to sit quietly before God at the end of the day and meditate on whether we have lived today as we should have done. Did we act as if we trust God for our daily provision? And did we do good today?

"Lord I blew it today, but you know my heart; I want to live a changed life and to be more like you in all ways. Help me tomorrow to walk in your ways that I might bring Glory to you name"

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
                                                                                       (verse 5-6)

These are fantastic words. You need no longer worry what people will think of you or how they will judge you. By living rightly before the Lord HE WILL JUSTIFY YOU!!! You will stand apart from others, they will see and know that you are different, to many it will be as fresh water to their souls even if they are not Christians. So commit your plans to the Lord before you go into a meeting and when you come out of a meeting. "Lord, be in my life, be in every corner of my life."

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked plans."
                                       (verse 7-8)

The Lord's timing is perfect if we let him have his way. This is one of the hardest lessons to be learnt, its an instant society, we want instant success, we see others apparently being successful in both the secular world and in Christian ministry, but we need to commit our business lives to the Lord, they are His to do with as He desires. I initially had a problem in my interpretation of the term "wicked" in this and other Psalms; feelings of 'is the business world wicked? Am I just over reacting? Was it a wicked act? But then I perceived that the Lord is holy, and that anything that is not holy is wicked unto the Lord; this gave me understanding. In general most people I dealt with in business were social likeable individuals, but not Godly people. So don't fret when others appear to be succeeding, the important thing is to be obeying God and letting His will guide our lives. His ways are perfect. Be at peace within yourself, God loves you, so feel beloved of God. For those who do not feel beloved of God then I would recommend reading Henri Nouen "Life of the Beloved".

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off; but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land."
                                                    (verse 9-10)

It's so important that we should not be harbouring bitterness or anger in our hearts for the things that have happened to us or our family. God says "Refrain" which means stop doing it. Now God would not tell us to stop doing something that was impossible to stop. We have the ability to refrain from losing our temper and we have the ability to forgive. Now these things might not come easy, but our prayer should be "Lord, I am finding it difficult to not be angry with this person or to forgive that person - Lord, Help me to be able to Love and forgive as your Son forgave those who persecuted him". The Lord's Prayer comes all to easy to us, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". God recognises our humanity, all HE wants us to do is also recognise that with His help we can change. Such wisdom is here for fretting only leads to evil. If we are angry then we pass this on to those around us, possibly causing them to sin. Anger and bitterness never solves anything, but we have the promise that those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Who do you want to be in control of your emotions? Others or Jesus?

"A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found, but the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken."
                                                                                                 (verse 11-15)

We are reminded that vengeance belongs to the Lord and He will call to account all those that oppress His people, and that includes us with regard to our relationships with other Christians. I may be suffering and frustrated as I look around me to those who appear to be succeeding while my family struggles, but I will still take delight in the Lord, for I know that I am beloved of God and He dismisses them with a laugh for they are foolish and blind and have chosen a path of destruction. Give thanks to the Lord at all times.

I have known the above to be true; people who have taken delight in coming against me unjustly are no longer around me. God has moved me on and placed me in place where I can be the person He wants me to be. His purposes cannot be thwarted.

"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous."
                                                                   (verse 16-17)

Our trust in the Lord is shown by our reliance on him for everything, when we trust in wealth we turn away from the Lord. Whether in riches or in poverty we must always trust in the Lord, and enjoy in freedom what he has provided for us. Is there Joy in your life? Suffering is inevitable but misery is optional. If you do not have Joy then look again at where your heart is. Be satisfied with what the Lord has provided. Do not envy others. Pray for humility, pray for Joy. To be a Christian should be a joyful experience, be satisfied with what the Lord currently has provided for you. This does not mean that you should not pray for greater things in God. Jabez did this and was considered honourable before God (1 Chronicles 4.9).

"The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure for ever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish --vanish like smoke."
                                                                                                    (verse 18-20)

When we act in a righteous manner God knows even if no one else recognises what we have done. So we are called to quietly rest in the understanding that our God knows all about our lives and cares for us. In business we are often faced with situations where we have a choice to act correctly or be a bit devious and gain from a situation, we can even try and persuade ourselves that it will be 'good for the business' and that we may be doing it for the employees benefits, i.e. 'it will keep them in work' but avoid such thoughts, as they are the way of the world. It may be difficult to justify your action to others but you know what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Commit your ways to Him, seek His face in all you do.

"The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off "
                                                                    (verse 21-22)

We are reminded that we are called to be 'generous' with the blessings that the Lord has provided for us, do not start to make excuses about providing for a rainy day and delay any tithing that you should be doing. Good financial planning is essential, but ensure that you plan for your tithes. Prayerfully consider where your tithes should go and never be precise in calculating your 10%, for you would not want God to behave in the same manner towards you. Always exceed and do so joyfully. When times are tight and you cannot tithe then be relaxed, as the Lord knows your heart. Do what little you can do. Many people tithe money only but also give of your time. You do not have any spare time? If I walk in the way of the Lord and His ways are perfect then there is sufficient time for me to do what He would want me to do. We have no excuses. Psalm 119 v 29 asks God to keep us from deceit, to be honest with ourselves. I can from experience tell you that when I have obeyed God and laid work aside to go and visit someone then the work afterwards always goes smoothly while if I do not go as I am too busy, then the work goes awry and takes me so much longer to do. I have learnt that it pays to obey!

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."
                                (verse 23-24)

This does not mean that in trusting in the Lord that all will be smooth and perfect. I always think of the Lord's walk to Calvary. He knew that what he was doing was the Father's will, and he was firm in this knowledge, he stumbled under the load he was bearing, but he was upheld in this knowledge and understanding. If we can know the Father's will in our own business lives then we can walk firmly through all situations and know that if we stumble that the Father's hand will be there to uphold us. Commit your plans for your business to the Lord.

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed."
                                                                                            (verse 25-26)

I have trouble in understanding many parts of scripture, it's a joy to us when we read or hear a sermon on a familiar passage from scripture and suddenly it's as if a light has been turned on and we can now see so clearly. Maybe because I do not have the wisdom of age as this line states that I lack understanding, on the first part of the verse. My mind is drawn to the hungry of Africa and parts of Eastern Europe; I pray that the Lord will grant me wisdom on this part of the verse in the future. The second part of the verse I can understand and appreciate, we are called to be free with that the Lord has provided freely to us. I am not thinking primarily about wealth but about my life. He has given me life, both spiritually in Christ and physically in body; through these freely given gifts I can work and hence impact those around me. I therefore want to share with others the good things that the Lord has provided for me. As I lead a selfless life my children (and those around me), shall be blessed as they shall be encouraged to lead similar lives, and find the blessings that living such a life brings even in times of suffering.

"Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land for ever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected for ever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it for ever."
                                         (verse 27-29)

Live business lives that are Holy. We are called to be radically different in not only our private lives, but in our business lives. To be salt and light to the world around us. The promise of the Lord is reliable, if we do His will then He will give us the nations, the promise to Israel was not broken by the Lord but by the nation who turned from him. The promises of the Lord are eternal.

"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip."
                                (verse 30-31)

I know that many times in my business life I have not spoken with truth and justice, and again I have tried to justify my stance by various excuses, but we know in our hearts that we are sinning. One thing all of us should desire is to speak with wisdom. What honour to Christ and benefit to our businesses would that bring! May we all desire to live with the law of God in our heart through the indwelling of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Holy spirit, then our words will be those bringing light into the darkest places. How I desire to have wisdom enough to meet all situations.

"The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial. Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off; you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but - he soon passes away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off:"
                                                                                              (verse 32-38)

The wisdom of man is foolishness to the Lord, it, may appear to us that its impossible to run a business on Christian principles when we face the business world today and see the way business is done and the motive behind the drive for personal gain and wealth, but we need to take trust in the Lord's promises, we have all seen wicked men prosper but they will pass, as they do not have any hope for the future. We have a God who wants us to enjoy our lives to the full, to lead interesting lives, not hollow empty lives reliant on material goods. Our future is good, as men of peace, speaking words of wisdom we shall be acknowledged in this world and in that which is to come. Take hold of the promises of God. Aren't you tired of the falseness of this world? The Kingdom of God is here; live in it.

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."
                                                                      (verse 39-40)

So many verses in this Psalm bring peace and strength, and provide guidance as it extols patience, refrain from anger and wrath, prudence in personal wealth, generosity in giving, wisdom from righteousness and salvation. May the Lord Bless you as you try to live your business lives in the Kingdom way.