Christ is our only, eternal treasure

Day 167: Psalms 49:8 – 14

            Psalm 49:8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever — 9That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit. 10For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others. 11Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. 12Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish. 13This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah. 14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

            An old American Folk Tune reads, “He paid a debt He did not owe;
I owed a debt I could not pay.” Lord, there is a cost to redeem us from our sins, but it is not a financial cost. It was the greatest cost that can ever be paid. It was the cost of Your own dear Son, our only Lord, and Savior. Without His payment for our sin, we have no hope. But He has totally paid the penalty for all the guilt of all the sin of all God’s people on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should live eternally!

            Money cannot buy this. Whether a man is wise or foolish, rich or poor, he will one day die. He will appear before You, the Maker, the Creator, and the Judge of the whole earth. Both the wise man and the fool see this and cannot deny it. All the wealth in the world cannot stop this.

            And when the wealthy die, all they have will go to others, whether family and friends or even to enemies and strangers. Money does not last. Even though they imagine their wealth will buy an eternal heritage, a lasting name for themselves, they cannot do so.

            Even the most honorable rich man with all the best efforts of his own to make his name last, cannot do so. You tell us, O God that it is foolish for us to try to make a name only for ourselves. We will all one day die and before men, we will be forgotten.

            But You have given hope for those who trust in You. You have given us promises, like this, “The meek will inherit the earth.” The righteous will prevail over the ungodly, even over the richest ungodly men in and through Jesus Christ alone. It is a humble, believing Christian that will prevail, whether rich or poor.

            God helps us all to seek first the kingdom of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness. You, Lord Jesus, are our greatest treasure!

Forever and ever, Amen!