The Folly of Trusting in Riches
Almighty and merciful God,
It is only by your grace that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Proper 13)
Psalm 49 Coverdale Psalter
Hear this, all you peoples; ponder it with your ears, all who dwell in the world, high and low, rich and poor, everyone with his neighbor. My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall muse on understanding. I will incline my ear to a parable and declare my dark sayings with the harp.
Why should I fear in the days of wickedness, and when the wicked at my heels encompass me round about? There are some who put their trust in their goods and boast in the multitude of their riches. But no one can deliver his brother, nor pay unto God a price for him; for it is so costly to redeem their souls, that we should never have enough to pay it, so that they should live forever and should not see the grave.
For we see that wise men die, as well as the ignorant and foolish; they perish alike and leave their riches for others. And yet they think that their houses shall continue forever and that their dwelling places shall endure from one generation to another, and they call lands after their own names.
Man is like an ox that has no understanding; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the way of their foolishness, yet their posterity praise their sayings. Like sheep they are appointed to die and death shall be their shepherd; they shall go down straight into the sepulcher. Their beauty shall consume away in the grave, which shall be their dwelling place forever. But God shall save me from the power of death, for he shall deliver my soul.
Be not envious if one is made rich, or if the glory of his house is increased, for he shall carry nothing away with him when he dies, neither shall his glory follow him. For while he lived, he counted himself happy, and so long as he did well for himself, people spoke well of him. He shall follow the generation of his fathers and shall never see the light. Those who are honored but have no understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Athanasius
If the whole earth is not worth the kingdom of heaven, sure he who has left a few fields leaves nothing, as it were; even if he has given up a house or much gold, he ought not to boast nor grow weary. Moreover, we should consider that if we do not relinquish these things for virtue’s sake, we leave them behind later when we die and often to those to whom we do not wish to leave them. Why, then, do we not relinquish them for the sake of virtue, so that we may inherit a kingdom?[1]
T. M. Moore
Let the redeemed of God take heart, though fools and all their wealth increase. Death shall deprive him of all he owns; the grave shall make his glory cease. Thus, though he boasts, no light he sees; his end in hell shall ever be.[2]
Jehovah Speaks
Henry F. Lyte
Jehovah speaks; let man be awed, and deep attention give. Ye sinners, hear the way to God! Ye dead, arise and live!
Trust not in earthly wealth and show; vain, vain, are they to save; gold cannot buy release from woe or ransom from the grave.
Worlds cannot reach the mighty price of one immortal soul. No, LORD, Thy blood and sacrifice alone can make us whole.
In Thee be our salvation sure; no other wealth we seek; we’re rich in Thee, however poor, and strong, however weak.
Psalm 90:12 NKJV
So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Ancient Christian Devotional Year C, p. 183.
[2] Psalm 49:16-20, The Ailbe Psalter, p. 59.
