Forbe's Magazine publishes a yearly list of the world's billionaires and the richest Americans, as well as "richest" lists for other countries. It is easy to look at these super-wealthy and assume that they have it all. After all, when you have access to billions of dollars, can't you get pretty much anything you want?
Not exactly.
Psalm 49 has a word for the rich, as well as the poor and everyone in between (v2). "Listen all who live in this world" (v1).
That pretty much includes everyone!
The psalmist goes on to remind us that, "No man can redeem the life of another or give God a ransom for him--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough" (v8). He also reminds us that, "The foolish and senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others."
You can't take it with you--and you can't buy eternal life. Money may buy the best medical attention and prolong one's life, "but man despite his riches does not endure" (v12).
The message of this psalm isn't about money but rather about trust. Who or what do you trust in? Do you trust in yourself and your resources? Or have you placed your faith in the Lord?
We can't redeem someone else's life or our own. No amount of money is enough. But there is One who has redeemed us, and that is Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection satisfied the payment needed for sin. Now it is up to us to apply that atonement to our lives by placing our trust in Christ to forgive us and give us everlasting life with Him.
Whether you are on the world's list of wealthiest or not, we all get to God the same way--through Jesus.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
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