Recently here in the U.S. there was a big lottery held, and the jackpot was an unbelievable amount of money. All week the TV news was talking about it, and so many people were eager to buy a ticket, and not just one ticket, but dozens and dozens. The desire to get immensely rich can be a big temptation to many people. They think that having a lot of money will solve all of their problems. No more need to worry about anything, as they feel their whole future will now be secure. Unfortunately they find out that they have a whole new set of problems. Even more importantly, all the money in the world does not provide any assurance of eternal life or our standing there. Our psalm for this week, one written by one of the Sons of Korah, speaks to those who put their trust and hope in their wealth and the size of their bank accounts.
The sons of Korah were descendants of Moses’ cousin, Korah. Korah led a rebellion against Moses, and God struck him and his co-conspirators down when He had the earth open up and swallow them all alive (Numbers 16:1-35). However, many of Korah’s descendants continued to serve the Lord, later working in the Temple. They also wrote about eleven of the psalms.
The writer’s message in his psalm is for everyone, all throughout the world, the rich and the poor, those in important positions, and the more humble (vs. 1-2). This is an important message, with wisdom from the Lord, and he wants everyone to hear it (vs. 3-4). What could be so important that he wanted everyone to hear?
This psalm addresses prosperity and the wealthy, and brings a warning to those who trust in their wealth rather than trusting in God (vs. 6). He spoke of how often the wealthy look down on those who are of more humble position (vs. 6, 13). They are often praised and honored simply because of their wealth, even having land named after them (vs. 11).
We do not need to either be envious of them, or fear them. Just like everyone else, they will face eventual judgment. Their wealth will not be able to stop death from eventually reaching them. All of their wealth will end up being left to others, and eventually they will be forgotten. Only a small handful of people are ever remembered 50-60 years after they have died.
The most important thing our psalmist wanted to tell us all is that all of the wealth anyone accumulates will never redeem their soul (vs. 7-9). No amount of money can buy our way into heaven. A rich person can give huge amounts to the church and church related organizations, but that will not guarantee an entrance into heaven. Man cannot be redeemed by silver or gold. It takes the priceless Blood of Jesus to redeem fallen mankind (I Peter 1:18-20). After death it is too late to redeem anyone. No one can redeem themselves, irrespective of their might, majesty, or wealth. Jesus is the only one who can redeem the soul, and He does so by His precious, shed Blood, which requires our faith and trust in that, and not in anything we do (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our psalmist urged believers to rise above the ungodly drive for riches. They cannot redeem us. Piling up a fortune, or getting the admiration of millions counts for nothing in eternity if one is not saved (Mark 8:36). The rich, if they are trusting in their money, will have no hope beyond this life, but the righteous, those who have put their faith and trust in God, will be resurrected to eternal life. Whether they have money or not will make no difference, only whether they are trusting Jesus will matter.
Because of our salvation and relationship with God, He will redeem us from death, and bring us to heaven. Death will not have the last word for the saved. At the moment of death, both rich and poor will be empty-handed before God. All we will have will be whether we invested in heaven, in eternity, while on earth. Did we trust in Jesus? Did we spend our time on earth accumulating riches in heaven, or did we foolishly try to accumulate earthly wealth? At the time of death, each of us will wish we had invested less on earth. All that we gathered and hoarded on earth will be left behind. The only thing that we have will be what we invested in heaven. Let us ask ourselves, where have we invested the most?
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