Psalm 49
The Futility of Money
I’m currently reading a book by Costi Hinn. He’s the nephew of the (in)famous preacher Benny Hinn. When he was younger, he was part of his Uncle’s circle. He travelled in private jets, drove hummers, stayed in expensive hotel suites and wore lavish jewellery. They preached what is called the ‘prosperity gospel’. That is, if you have enough faith, you will be blessed financially. This financial prosperity though is always built on the backs of the poor.
This week we are exploring what is known as a wisdom Psalm. In it we hear the wisdom of God to the people of God about the ways of God. And in this Psalm, we see that financial prosperity is no great gain. It is a fleeting treasure which cannot be taken past the grave.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me –
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them –
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough –
9 so that they should live on for ever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses for ever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 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.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendour of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendour will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed –
and people praise you when you prosper –
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
This Psalm opens with a global broadcast. Here is a word for the whole world. This is wisdom for all to hear (whether they end up heeding it or not). There is no distinction between those who live in luxury and those who live with little. The Psalmist is insistent that this is something that we all need to listen to.
The big theme and focus here is on the futility of a life devoted to money. The pursuit of money and the storing up of financial wealth is just vanity.
Death exposes this.
vv7-9 are striking in this regard. Financial might is not strong enough to stave off death. No amount of money can halt the grim reaper knocking on our doors. The Psalmist is clear here. There is no number that is high enough to ransom our lives. The richest might prolong their lives for a few decades more. Indeed this is the reality, and even here in Scotland, it shows up the divide between the haves and have-nots. But it is only a short extension. Because death will not be stopped. The price tag to overcome death is beyond our means.
And those who trust in their worldly wealth will not hold onto it. It will go into the hands of others eventually (10). That we cannot cheat death and hold onto our trinkets is clearly observable to all. However many zeros that are in our bank accounts is irrelevant. This is where the Psalmist pushes on into. In v12, we acknowledge that we are no greater than the animals. They might live in stables and the rich might live in castles, but there is an expiry date for us all.
We are shown how the sparkling promise of money and wealth is ultimately empty. The rich pour their money into castles and mansions but all their effort only ever obtains a place six feet under ground next to the poor.
This was a key element of Jesus’s teaching. Those who commit themselves to treasure that will rust and rot will eventually become like it.
The purpose of this Psalm is to act as a caution (16-20). It is to ward us off from desiring worldly treasures by warning us of their vanity.
But as we close our brief reflections on this Psalm, I want us to consider the one who is rich beyond all splendour. Earlier in v7, it was established clearly that no amount of earthly riches could redeem us from the threat of death (15). But there is someone who is able to liberate us through his riches.
Earlier this year, Geoffrey Holt of Hinsdale, New Hampshire died. He was well known around the town. He lived in a mobile home, didn’t own a car and dressed in threadbare clothes. People then were shocked that to know that he had been a multi-millionaire. And in his will, he left all $3.8 million to those who lived in the town. Through his death, he enriched the town.
It is through Christ’s death, that all who believe in him are enriched. Not with the trinkets of the world but the treasures of heaven as the ‘prosperity gospel’ preachers erroneously claim. For Christ’s blood paid the price of our redemption, obtaining the forgiveness of our sins. The certainty that the Psalmist had in God paying the ransom for his people was realised through Jesus, who gave his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10.45).
Therefore, let’s not be infatuated by the riches of the world, but instead let’s look to the one who bought us at a great price and conquered death through his death to bring us into his presence.
Glory be to God the Father, who in love sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Glory be to God the Son, through whom we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18
Is grief wrong? What is different about Christian grief?
What is it that might have disturbed the Thessalonian Christians? How does Paul seek to console them?
In what ways can we seek to encourage others with these words?