"Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me -
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?"
Psalm 49:5-6
Notice at the end of this sentence that the wicked deceivers are those who:
1) trust in their wealth, and
2) brag about all the money they have.
Are people like that surrounding you and making you feel bad that you don't have enough retirement or that you aren't going to live a good life. Do not fear!
As good as a dead dog
"No man can redeem the life of another
or give God a ransom for him -
the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough -
that he should live and not see decay.
For all can see that wise men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others,
Their tombs will remain their houses forever,
their dwelling for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.
But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers who approve their sayings."
Psalm 49:5-11
"A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:20
Here is how we'd say it in south Georgia,
"A person who is rich but doesn't understand that there is more to life than money is as good for nothing as a dead dog."
Keep perspective, Christian
"But God will redeem my life from the grave;The wise George Mueller said,
he will surely take me to himself. Selah
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;
for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.
Though whle he lived he counted himself blessed -
and men praise you when you prosper -
he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life."
Psalm 49:16-19
"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
Yes, we should plan for the future. But when we are asked to walk on the water in the midst of the storms look at the face of the Savior, not at the waves and certainly not at naysayers or the unwise who surround us. You will be discouraged if you listen to the people who value life by wealth or beauty.
