Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor – listen! For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listened carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp. There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, when enemies are surrounding me. They trust in their wealth and boast of their riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave. Psalm 49: 1-8 NLT
Death is the great equalizer.
The psalmist wants us to hear that wealth will not save you from death. Therefore, we should not be afraid of enemies who boast in wealth's power. We have something far greater: the power of the Lord our God.
Money will not buy redemption. Sure, you can get medical treatments to help you live a bit longer or look a bit younger. But money will not keep death away.
In fact, money won't get you saved, either. Belief in and following Jesus is what you need no matter the size of your paycheck.
Using money as a means to control others cannot be used to control death – or God.
God, we boast about what we have. We show others our stuff. We think we can control our lives with money and sometimes we think we can control others with money. But it is only you who matter. Your love is worth more than all the gold in the world. Money cannot buy our redemption: Jesus has already paid the price for us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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