Psalm 49:1-20 – The Folly of Trusting in Riches

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Is putting your trust in riches wiser than putting your faith and trust in the One who can move mountains?

Introduction

Which is wiser:  Putting your trust in wealth, or putting your faith and trust in the One who can move mountains? 

One of our greatest struggles today is the value that we put on earthly riches.  In this very moment, as you read off this week’s Sunday School commentary, someone is grinding and hustling, not necessarily out of need but out of want.  While earthly treasures do have value, we ought not value them over the kingdom of heaven, which is what our lesson focuses on this week.  This week’s Sunday School commentary is from Psalm 49:1-20.

What we will focus on learning in this week’s Sunday School commentary:

1. The value of earthly riches versus heavenly riches.
2. Does God want Christians to suffer.
3. The calamity that awaits those who treasure earthly riches over the heavenly kingdom.

A Song for All People

Our lesson this week opens with a song that is meant for all people, the low and high, the rich and poor together (Ps. 49:1-2).  The focus of the song is wisdom and giving understanding.

Now, let’s keep in mind that when the written word focuses on wisdom, that means knowledge that is of God, not worldly wisdom.  Proverbs 1:7 states that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  In other words, one should fear God’s judgment so that they may strive to live in a manner that will please Him.

So, this psalm is about gaining wisdom, and again, I want to highlight that it’s a song for all people to hear.  As we saw in the lesson – Wisdom Calls the Fool – no one is above needing to know of leaning and depending on the Lord.  Yes, even if you have much wealth, all of us need the Lord.

Redemption Is Of God

Typically, when we take a look at the Book of Psalms, we cover David’s psalms, as the majority of the psalms are his.  However, Psalm 49 is a psalm of the sons of Korah.  

Korah was a Levite, a tribe, who, by law, was instructed to serve in the temple.  Korah, however, is better known for being one of the leaders who rebelled against Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16.  He, along with those who joined in his rebellion, was ‘swallowed up by the Earth’ for not just rebelling against Moses and Aaron, but for rebelling against God (Num. 16:31-32).

However, Numbers 26:10-11 notes that Korah’s sons did not die in the rebellion of their father, which I believe is incredibly important to highlight.  Korah’s sons, because they were Levites, eventually served in the temple faithfully and made up the choir.  I wanted to share this history of Korah and his sons because I believe it’s important we know that redemption is available to all people, including the sons of rebellious sinners!

In Ezekiel 18, the Lord said, “Behold, all souls are Mine (Ezek. 18:4).”  Then, the Lord said, “If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise … But has executed My judgments and walked in My statutes–He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live (Ezek. 18:14,17).”

I believe the sons of Korah, Korah’s descendants, understood that God could have completely wiped out Korah’s house, but because God didn’t do that, they were grateful for His grace and mercy.  I believe that it was because of God’s mercy and grace that they sang this song of wisdom to all people.

God will judge.  Because God will judge, He will determine who is redeemed and who won’t be redeemed.  Again, this is important for all of us to understand.  Korah’s sons certainly felt like it was important that all people, not just the children of Israel, understood that God is the redeemer.  

The Unlimited Power of God

Psalm 49:5 poses an interesting question:  “Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?”  This is to ask:  ‘Why should I fear when I am surrounded by wickedness?’  

Let us consider: all of us live in a world of wickedness; therefore, we are all surrounded by wickedness. So, should we who believe in the Lord fear living in this world?

God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, which is to say that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present.  God is Sovereign, above all of creation. Who or what can overcome the one who sits above heaven and earth?   

The Limited Power of Earthly Treasures

As confident as believers are in the power of God, the rich and proud are confident in their riches.  Wealth can certainly help to take care of bills and put food on the table.  Yet, there is a limit to the power of money, as the psalmist sang. 

In Psalm 49:6-9, the psalm states, “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitudes of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him– For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever– that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.”

While money can take care of worldly problems, money has no power over the spiritual–to redeem a soul.  Jesus asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul (Mark 8:36)?”

The soul can only be redeemed by the one who says that all souls are His.  The soul can only be redeemed by the one who gave His only begotten Son to save souls from His condemnation of sin. 

God values the soul more than earthly treasure, for what can silver and gold do for the Lord?  Keep in mind that the soul is the breath that God breathed into mankind’s nostrils His breath, and we became living souls (Gen. 2:7).  So, why would He value that which tarnishes over that which He gave to dwell for eternity with Him?

Is it bad for one to become rich?  Does God despise and move against one becoming rich?  Does the Lord want us to be broke, poor, and suffer?  God is not against one becoming rich.  Many believe that God’s desire is for one to be broke and live in suffering; that He stands against one becoming rich.  

The Vanity of Riches

Psalm 49:10-12 takes us in the direction of what Solomon said throughout Ecclesiastes 1-2.  

The psalmist sang, “The fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish. ”  

Solomon said these same things about earthly riches when he said that it is vanity (meaningless).  Solomon said it’s vanity to toil and labor to gain riches, only to die for another generation to come along the way and gain those riches (Eccl. 1:1-4).  Solomon also said that he hated the labor for such riches because the riches would be left to those who come after, and who’s to say if those riches will be left to one who is wise or a fool (Eccl. 2:18-23). 

Again, there is nothing wrong with gaining riches, but a man who had the kind of wealth that none had ever seen had the perspective that one ought to be careful in how one views wealth.  One’s riches will never be better than the Lord and His riches because God’s riches are eternal, while man’s riches can only be enjoyed for a lifetime.

The Result of Trusting in Wealth

Psalm 49:13-14 concludes the way of those who put their trust in wealth over the Lord.  The psalmist sings that like sheep, those who trust in their riches are laid in the grave, and death shall feed on them.”

Jesus said that those who lay up their treasure on earth lay up their treasures where moth and rust destroy (Matt. 6:19).  And, to be clear, the Lord is not against you becoming rich; He simply desires that you put your trust in Him rather than in riches.  If you become rich, trust the Lord, and everything will be alright.

Again, this song is meant for all to hear.  When the psalmist sang in Psalm 49:15, “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me,” this is sung for all who trust in the Lord.  

If you trust in the Lord, He will welcome you into His kingdom, whether you are rich or poor.  Consider that Jesus didn’t turn away the rich young ruler when the young ruler initially came to Him asking what He needed to do to inherit the kingdom.  It was only when the young ruler committed himself to his riches that Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to inherit the kingdom.

This week’s lesson closes on many of the notes already covered in this commentary, in Psalm 49:16-20.  However, let’s highlight again: one can become rich in this world, but as it is sung, “When he [the rich] dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall descend after him.”

Living such a life trusting in riches rather than the Lord, leads one to live a wasted life, having wasted the opportunity of being able to inherit God’s kingdom.  God’s desire is not for any of us to live a wasted life.  No, the Lord’s desire is that you trust in Him and be raised with Christ to dwell with Him for everlasting life.