Riches are short term

 

We're learning from Psalm 49 again today; the songwriter advises us that we need not fear when those who trust in their riches are prospering. Why? Because their wealth cannot buy them an escape from death:

Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,
6 Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7 No one can by any means redeem another
Or give God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption of his soul is priceless,
And he should cease imagining forever—
9 That he might live on eternally,
That he might not undergo decay. (v. 5-9)

The psalmist mentions fear in verse five, and then again in verse sixteen. Why does he talk about fearing the wealthy? I think that it's because often the wealthy are tempted to oppress and take advantage of people who don't have the money and resources to defend themselves.  Our songwriter describes himself in some translations as surrounded by "supplanters" or "deceivers."  The RSV says they are "persecutors." Still other versions say "cheaters" or "betrayers."

Not a pretty picture.

Now, he's not talking about all of the rich. He is not saying that to be rich is sinful. Instead, he talks about "those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches" (verse 6).  These are the arrogant rich who do not trust in God.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (Luke 12:19)

Instead of thanking God for the blessings, they think they've done it all themselves. These are the people who pepper their speech with "I" and "me" and "my." They spend very little time thinking about others, and when they do, they don't see much that they like.

The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (Luke 18:11)

Our psalmist is also talking about the rich who oppress others and cheat them. The Bible talks a lot about being fair. There are instructions for measuring things accurately and giving a fair amount for the money. There are instructions for treating people humanely and compassionately. It's terrible that we humans need to be instructed on how to treat other humans, no? Even in our modern world, where there is emphasis on equality of persons, bribery and influence peddling among the powerful can threaten the poor.

In verses seven through nine, we see that the prosperity of the wicked is not only brief, but it's useless when it comes to avoiding death.

The psalmist tells us that no one can use money to give God a ransom for someone's soul. We can't use money to give to God, to prolong someone's life. Some people are so arrogant that they think everyone has a price. That there's an amount of money they can offer, that will bribe a person to do something they don't really want to do. But no one can bribe God. Each of us has a certain length of time here on earth - we might prolong things with money to purchase medical treatments and such, but we can't "cheat" death. 

So, the psalmist's first answer to the riddle of the rich and powerful and their oppression of the poor is that their success is only a brief one, and that they can't stave off death.

Then, he goes on to point out how silly it is to trust in riches, in light of the absolute, rock-bottom certainty of death:

For he sees that even the wise die;
    the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
    he is like the beasts that perish. (v 10-12)

Yes, it's true. The odds that we will beat death are not good. And the old joke is true: you don't see Uhaul trailers hooked up to the back of hearses. You really can't take it with you. 

The psalmist observes that it doesn't matter if one is wise or foolish, at some point one dies and the wealth and possessions are left to others. The uber-rich (as some call them today) may have exceedingly large and magnificent homes and possessions; they may think that all of those things will endure forever. But the truth of the matter is, they will soon be forgotten.

And that is the second part of the songwriter's answer: the failure of wealth is total failure. Those who trust in their wealth instead of in God cannot purchase an escape from death as they purchase other things. They can't "cheat" death. We need not fear the powerful. Their power is only temporary.