rich Folly

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

     1Hear this, all peoples;
         Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
    2Both low and high,
         Rich and poor together.
    3My mouth will speak wisdom,
         And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
    4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
         I will express my riddle on the harp.
    5Why should I fear in days of adversity,
         When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
    6Even those who trust in their wealth
         And boast in the abundance of their riches?
    7No man can by any means redeem his brother
         Or give to God a ransom for him–
    8For the redemption of his soul is costly,
         And he should cease trying forever–
    9That he should live on eternally,
         That he should not undergo decay.
    10For he sees that even wise men die;
         The stupid and the senseless alike perish
         And leave their wealth to others.
    11Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
         And their dwelling places to all generations;
         They have called their lands after their own names.
    12But man in his pomp will not endure;
         He is like the beasts that perish.
    13This is the way of those who are foolish,
         And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.
    14As sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
         Death shall be their shepherd;
         And the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
         And their form shall be for Sheol to consume
         So that they have no habitation.
    15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
         For He will receive me. Selah.
    16Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,
         When the glory of his house is increased;
    17For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
         His glory will not descend after him.
    18Though while he lives he congratulates himself–
         And though men praise you when you do well for yourself–
    19He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
         They will never see the light.
    20Man in his pomp, yet without understanding,
         Is like the beasts that perish.

 - Psalm 49

     With all of the effort of man, nothing is truly everlasting.  Man is a feeble creature; a temporal one. Yet there is nothing more appealing to him than his own ability to provide for himself, for those he loves and all of this for eternity.  Many somehow see the temporary comfort of their riches as a means to eternal life.  Not that they will live forever, but that somehow, if they can acquire enough stuff and amass enough wealth, their name and prodigy will last forever. How sad and underwhelming. Unfortunately, as he psalmist clearly declares, this is at best mere folly. There is nothing of lasting value in the riches of man.  They do not last, but fade or are taken by one’s enemies.

     There is treasure though that will endure.  This treasure is in a relationship with an almighty God, through the redeeming blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. This treasure does last forever, and it does result in eternal life; God having redeemed the soul of the believer from the power of Sheol. Man cannot pursue both God and riches. He must ultimately forsake on for the other (Matthew 6:24).

     The question is what do you pursue? Are you placing your trust in your own ability to acquire for yourself (and even your loved-ones) eternal life?  It cannot be done.  You must simply rely on God to do that for you.  Perhaps you have already accepted the truth and grace of the gift of eternal life from God, but you have forsaken your love for him and chase after things of this world.  You will live forever, but your life here and in eternity will not be as rich.  God wants a relationship with you which is exclusive.  In return, He will give you the desires of your heart (because your desire will be Him).  You may not be materially rich, but you will eventually be blessed beyond all imagination.