In our ongoing journey through Psalm 49, we’ve explored essential wisdom to avoid life’s ruin. We’ve already uncovered six destructive paths, and today, we’ll delve into two more steps that can lead to our own demise.
#6 – Live for Today
“Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.”- Psalm 49:14-15
We often face a critical choice in life: to invest in today at the expense of tomorrow or to invest in tomorrow, which promises unimaginable rewards. Opting for immediate gratification may bring success, happiness, and comfort for a few short decades. Yet, lurking in the background, “death is our shepherd.”
Consider this image: a calf being prepared for a family meal. They don’t consume the calf as soon as they get it; instead, they fatten it up. The calf grazes on abundant grass, believing, “All this is just for me! I can have as much as I want!” But as verse 14 suggests, “Their form shall be for Sheol to consume.” Living for today resembles the fattened calf, the more we accomplish for our glory in our own strength, the more “meat” for death to feed upon. We unwittingly follow the cow, thinking we’ve got it all, while we’re being readied for our own demise.
The Cross Of Christ
So, what does the cross have to say to people like us who are living for today? The cross urges us to embrace the hope of a better future. Jesus, our Savior, endured the cross for the joy set before Him. When we strive to create heaven on earth, we reveal our unwillingness to suffer with Jesus, missing out on reigning with Him. Verses 14 and 15 offer hope: “the upright shall rule over them in the morning,” like a child promised a plate of cookies if they can wait. The future is bright, grounded in verse 15, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.” Without Jesus, hell would consume us, and our sins would fuel the fire. Living for today leads to life’s ruin.
#7 – Assess Life by Possessions
“Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.”- Psalm 49:16-17
We’re all tempted to assess life by our possessions. We measure our bank balance and the car we drive compared to others. We end up evaluating life based on what we have and what others possess.
The problem with assessing life by possessions is that it enslaves us. We feel compelled to demonstrate our worth through material wealth, continually worrying about what others own. This materialistic mindset often drives us to one of two extremes. We either fall into the pit of materialism, believing our entire lives are defined by our possessions, or we lean towards minimalism, viewing money and possessions as evil. In both cases, the common thread is assessing life by possessions.
Psalm 49:16-17 offers a different perspective, not advocating for materialism or minimalism but suggesting that we shouldn’t be afraid when someone becomes rich and their house gains glory because they won’t carry anything away when they die, and their glory won’t follow them. In other words, don’t let possessions and riches have control over you. Your peace and security are not tied to what you do have, and they are not tied to what you don’t have.
The Cross Of Christ
So, what does the cross teach us when we assess life by possessions? Contrary to a simplistic embrace of minimalism, the cross points to the need for faithful stewardship. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 states, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” God’s evaluation of life doesn’t revolve around accumulating or minimizing possessions; it focuses on what we do with our possessions. The cross highlights stewardship because Jesus utilized His infinite wealth to pay our infinite debt. Whether in our church, our families, or our individual hearts, God aims to free us from assessing life by possessions and release us to become the most faithful stewards we can be. Assessing life by possessions will lead us to ruin our lives.
In this fourth installment of our series, we’ve uncovered two more destructive paths from Psalm 49. The cross reminds us to invest in the future and trust God’s timing while freeing us from the entrapment of assessing life by our possessions. The wisdom of the cross guides us toward a life of faithful stewardship.
