The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 49:12-15,
"People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself."
In this Psalm, the sons of Korah have in view the propensity we may have to envy the rich in this life. The point made in this psalm is that those who are rich and trust in their riches are not to be envied when viewed from eternity. Things may look one way from the temporary nature of this life, but from eternity, a whole different perspective is arrived at. What is fascinating in the perspective provided in this psalm is how we are transitioned from the view this life holds to the view the after-life holds. This psalm contains within it answers many seek, and here it is, right here in Psalm 49!
One important observation that is made is that the rich who trust in their riches die like any other living thing, they "do not endure". It is an important starting point: what anyone has in this life is temporary and when viewed from eternity, it is just a very short time span. All die, "People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish." Verse 12. Also, this psalm goes on to tell us, "No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay." Psalm 49:7-9.
Additionally, we learn that what riches are enjoyed in this short life are all left behind and are completely useless to determine any one's outcome in the the next life, a very long life that never ends. As we are told in Proverbs 11:4, "Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death". Only a right standing with God in this life can have impact in the next. Romans 3:21-22a tells us, "Now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Embracing Jesus Christ in faith brings us a right standing with God and assures us a wonderful eternity, something wealth in this life cannot do.
Although some of us may struggle with envy as we view what those richer may have, or feel a sense of "relative deprivation", what the rich may have in this life holds no advantage in the next. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring us happiness and fulfillment in the next life, "eternal life". All others will be cast into that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 20 and 21. The sons of Korah warn, "Though while they [those who trust in themselves] live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper— they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish."
How wonderful the Lord has not left us with no hope of understanding. Through the wonder of his powerful gospel message, God reaches out to the world and seeks all who will respond to him in faith!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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