October 11 - Psalm 49

This is a wisdom poem about death and wealth.  One we can be sure of, the other will not transcend the first.  But, we tend to give great power to those who have wealth, don’t we?  The Psalmist tells us it’s not worth it in the long run.

Why should we be afraid of the days when those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches surround us?  They can’t purchase our life for us, can they?  No one can pay God enough to stop death.

We try so hard to subvert death today. We pay enormous amounts of money because life is so precious.  We place life over everything else … and yet, even wise men and the foolish and senseless will die.  Their wealth will be left to others.

It occurs to me that life in the time of the Psalms isn't so different than it is today.  In that day, they named lands after themselves (Ps. 49:11); today the wealthy name buildings after themselves so they have the illusion of living forever.  But, how many college campuses have you walked through and though the name continues to be engraved on a building, no one has a clue who the donor was?

Money will not help us live forever, even if our name is on a plaque on a building.  Those who trust in themselves and hope to have followers who approve of what they did or say will still die (Ps. 49:13).

Their bodies will decay far from the beauty they created to surround themselves with while they were alive.  It matters not.

God will redeem our souls.  God will bring us to himself (Ps. 49:15).

So, the Psalmist says, don’t get too excited about a rich man; don’t be awed when he buys bigger and better homes.  He won’t take it with him.  Even though everyone around him thought he was amazing because he was rich and called him a blessed man because he was prosperous, he will still join his fathers in death and will never see the light of life (Ps. 49:19).

The Psalmist finishes by saying, “A rich man without understanding is like beasts that perish” (Ps. 49:20).

Wealth can own you and make you a person who pays no attention to the Lord. You must understand that the Lord is the only one to give you life beyond death.