Read
(A psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Don't Depend on Wealth
1Everyone on this earth,
now listen to what I say!
2Listen, no matter who you are,
rich or poor.
3I speak words of wisdom,
and my thoughts make sense.
4I have in mind a mystery
that I will explain
while playing my harp.
5Why should I be afraid
in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
by vicious enemies?
6They trust in their riches
and brag about
all their wealth.
7You cannot buy back your life
or pay off God!
8It costs far too much
to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough
9to stay alive forever
and safe from death.
10 We see that wise people die,
and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left
for someone else.
11The grave will be their home
forever and ever,
although they once had land
of their own.
12Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
13Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
the words of fools:
14They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
leading them to the grave.
In the morning God's people
will walk all over them,
as their bodies lie rotting
in their home, the grave.
15But God will rescue me
from the power of death.
16Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
and live in luxury.
17Soon they will die
and all their wealth
will be left behind.
18We humans are praised
when we do well,
and all of us are glad
to be alive.
19But we each will go down
to our ancestors,
never again to see
the light of day.
20Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
Reflect
The theme of this passage is quite straightforward: Money cannot rescue you from death. And neither can land, or possessions, or influence, or “human glory.” As the psalmist says, “we each will go down to our ancestors;” all of us will one day find ourselves in a grave. The only thing that can rescue you from the power of death is God. He doesn’t rely on money and He is not even confined by time. But best of all, he has already defeated death, thus it holds no power over him. And if we’re with him, it holds no power over us either.
This is why the psalmist asks, in verse five, “Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when I am surrounded by vicious enemies?” He is saying that even if the worst should happen, and his enemies bring him to death’s door, it is not the end. And if he no longer needs to fear the worst, there is little else to fear. After all, when you serve a God who conquered death itself, how much more can He help you endure and overcome earthly troubles and challenges?
When you surrender your life into God’s hands, he doesn’t just pay attention to the here
and now. Not when your eternity hangs in the balance and he has the power to set things straight. Trusting in riches and bragging about wealth will only lead to an inevitable end. Trusting in God and boasting about nothing except the cross – that is, putting your faith in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and conqueror of the grave – that will lead you toward an escape. That will lead you to salvation.
Respond
Saviour and merciful Father, thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice, succumbing to death on a cross, in order to rescue me. I no longer have to fear death because in you is life, and that life is the light of all mankind. Amen.
Larissa Benfey
Larissa is a Toronto based actor and writer who has dabbled in everything from scripts to short stories, and is now setting her sights on novels. Having studied English and history at Tyndale University and Seminary, she loves a good story, but her favorite stories always have happy endings - which is part of why she loves the true story of the Gospel so much.