Low and High, Rich and Poor

Psalm 49:1-9 “Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him— For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever— That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.

I was listening to the radio on the way to work this week of the “Thru the Bible” broadcast of the late Pastor J. Vernon McGee as he expounded to us Psalm 49 and exhorted us about the unhealthy love of money, riches and wealth. Money, of course is not the root problem. We all need money to purchase goods and services, pay mortgages and rentals, schooling, taxes, et cetera. But when we idolize money, then our heart bows to that idol (an item of adoration, awe, devotion, reverence, worship and veneration) that distracts, shepherds and masters us from God and His purposes. The Psalmist says, why should I fear the days of evil here and now, when my willful sin against a just and holy God that will keep me from salvation and eternal life in heaven is all around my feet. A proper prospective and use of money is good and balanced, but idolizing it, improper stewardship of it and self-absorption around it is folly and futile humanistic existentialism. Where is our focus? 

Psalm 49:10-20”For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. 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. Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they 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.

Dr. McGee explains that the point is: “all die”, low and high, rich and poor. Nobody lives forever. The question is not whether you are rich or poor. In the final analysis, the question is this: Are you “Redeemed”? Are you “Regenerated”? Are you “Saved”? Are you a child of God through faith in Christ? Are you going to Heaven? As the Psalmist says: "That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit." You and I cannot buy salvation. No man has enough to buy salvation from their riches. We might live to accumulate wealth and say: “Nobody can take it away.” But there is somebody that can, and someday will, take us away from it. We may fool ourselves into thinking: “How much will I leave for others?”, but reality is that we shall leave it all. They will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Do not allow our conscience to be held captive and subject to the whims of our egocentric culture. The God-rejecting world system seeks to suppress our mind, will and emotions. Immorality draws a man down. In this life, we all, low and high, rich and poor, choose between two masters: either Christ will be their shepherd, or death will be their shepherd.  

Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

You can listen to “Thru the Bible” broadcast @ http://www.ttb.org/ and click: “LISTEN”. May this ministry be a blessing to you.

In Christ, Brian