In the Twinkling of an Eye

Psalm 49

The Psalmist is troubled at the prosperity of those who “boast of their great riches” (verse 6).

There is more here than just wrestling with his own lack of riches. There is honest spiritual reflection here on what an eternal perspective on relative material wealth should be.

The reflection hinges on the trust factor. Those who trust in their riches will find they have put all their eggs in the wrong basket. Rich and poor alike die. But then that’s not quite the issue. Being rich is not wrong. Trusting in riches is. By the same token, poverty itself is not a virtue. On the contrary, it is an urgent aspect of ministry and mission. The spiritual poverty that Jesus would later commend (Matthew 5:3) means we know our strength lies in someone other than ourselves. That attitude of need may be more elusive for those who feel themselves to be self-sufficient. The Biblical perspective is that this is a danger more for the materially rich than the materially poor.

A further thought, one that doesn’t come directly out of this text, but is prompted by it: Why is it when we speak of heaven we tend to think of its delights as being extensions or fulfillments of earthly enjoyments? You know, the golf course to end all golf courses, and when you play it your slice is gone - that kind of thing. All we really know is that we will be with God and enjoy complete union with him and all those who have trusted in him. It’s about an indestructible relationship, in and through his Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39). As for what we will be like, Scripture focuses on the complete change in us, rather than any sort of continuation of what we now know (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:35-53).

There is a truth in this Psalm that is a commonplace observation: Death is the great leveler. But Scriptural faith goes beyond that to something more powerful. We are made for eternity. What kind of eternity that will be depends in no way on the values we get from life in this world. That’s a hard lesson for the rich of experience, the rich of knowledge, the rich of wisdom accumulated through life. For the mature of faith, all those things are tools of service, perhaps means of edification and enjoyment in life. They count for nothing for eternity (see Philippians 3:7-9). We all depend on one thing and one thing only: belief in the risen Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9).

Prayer:
God, give me a right perspective on, and enjoyment of, the things of this world. Through Christ. Amen.