Psalm 49

One day we will all die (and we don’t know when), therefore our focus should not be on our riches in this life, but on eternity with God.

because a man who has riches without understanding... is like the beasts that perish. [Ps 48 verse 20]

 

 A psalm  For the director of music of the Sons of Korah

1    Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all who live in this world,

2    both low and high, rich and poor alike:

3    My mouth will speak words of wisdom—

      the utterance from my heart will give understanding. 
 

4    I will turn my ear to a proverb—with the harp I will expound my riddle:

5    Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

6    those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

7    No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—

8   The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—

9   That he should live on forever and not see decay.

     10   For all can see that wise men die. The foolish and the senseless alike perish

      and leave their wealth to others.

      11   Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless

             generations, though they had named lands after themselves.

      12  But man, despite his riches, does not endure. He is  like the beasts that perish.

      13  This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who

            approve their sayings.     Selah   

14   Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them.

      The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave,

     far from their princely mansions.

15   But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to himself. 

     Selah  

 

16   Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases—

17   For he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.

18   Though while he lived he counted himself blessed and men praise you when you prosper—

19   He will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life.

20   A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

 

The Parable of the Rich Fool
Focusing directly on praise to God, this psalm gives instruction that—if we heed it—will ultimately result in praise to God. It gives the understanding that we need to live rightly in light of eternity, so that one day we can present ourselves blameless before God. Because we all will one day die, our focus should not be on riches and fame in this life, but on eternity in the presence of God.

Jesus taught from the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21. He began with a strong warning “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

This man who was very successful, congratulated himself on hard work and all his abundance.  His barns were full. This man decided to build bigger barns for his growing riches.  He thought, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come— take it easy, eat, drink and be merry.”  But God told him “You fool! This very night your soul will be required of you!  And now who will own what you have prepared?”  Jesus’ conclusion is the man is a fool who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

The psalmist’s call: Every person from every walk of life should hear this counsel. The poor can be just as materialistic as the rich because materialism is a desire of the heart, not just a matter of owning things. So you can’t shrug off the psalmist’s message by thinking, “I am too poor to worry about living for possessions.” His message applies to all people.

Benefits of Gaining Understanding from God  Proverbs 2: 1-15, 19-22

Proverbs 2:6 tells us, “For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” It also passes on to us wisdom that he been gained by inclining our ear to God.  

1  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,   2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,  3  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,  4  looking for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,  5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.  7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,  8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.  10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.  12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,  13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,  14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,  15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways...

19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.  20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.  21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;  22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

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The Lord is not the shepherd, over the one who enjoys wealthy and possessions.  Rather, death is! While the wealthy may live in mansions now, when they die, they will have no habitation, except for Sheol, the grave.  Because you will die, your focus should not be on accumulating more and more stuff in this life, but rather on spending eternity with God.