Rich Toward God

Context

Our current theme: Summer in the Psalms. The Psalter is a collection of songs, prayers, and poems that God’s people have long treasured for how they help us to express ourselves to God. The psalms help us to praise, to lament, to give thanks, to trust, to self-dedicate, and to repent. Probably, we know many portions of the psalms by heart. At the same time, the psalms can sometimes be mystifying. We struggle to find what we are looking for or we are surprised by what we find.

This summer, we are focusing on the psalms through a helpful lens: Jesus. After his resurrection, our Lord taught his disciples how the law, the prophets, and the psalms had to be fulfilled by himself. (Luke 24:44) So, as we read and preach the psalms this summer we pair them with Jesus’ ministry. The big idea is that the psalms point us to Jesus and Jesus illuminates the psalms. Our goal will be to experience how the psalms deepen our connection with Jesus, thus making them a more familiar and accessible resource for our spiritual life.

This week, Psalm 49:1-15 paired with a parable told by Jesus in Luke 12:13-21.

Gospel Reading

Psalm Reading

Now a reading from Psalm 49. ” I invite you to look at the psalm in your (pew) Bible while I preach so that you can get familiar with it and return to it during the week.

Superscription:

To the leader. Dedicated to the choir master.

Of the Korathites. A division of singers among the Levites descended from Korah, who led in temple worship; there are 11 psalms dedicated to them.

A Psalm. A sacred song.

Prayer

The psalmist calls all people to listen to his words. May we listen to his words as Your word, Lord.

INTRODUCTION

The best things in life are free - you can give them to the birds and the bees: I want money. That’s what I want.

The love of money is the root of all evil.

EXEGESIS

The psalmist has before him a riddle (Ps. 49:4). A life problem that requires deep reflection and evaluation of experience to solve.

The riddle: How shall the righteous endure wrong doers, when they have money on their side?

The Psalmist is in a time of trouble (Ps. 49:5) and the iniquity of his persecutors surrounds him. What is particularly distressful is that his persecutors are wealthy. (Ps. 49:6) They have an abundance of riches, and he does not.

The psalmist feels vulnerable. They trust in wealth, their estates are growing (Ps. 49:16) , they feel happy (Ps. 49:18), other people praise them, they have land,…and all this the psalmist, speaking on behalf of the poor, is oppressed.

In the ancient world, the wealthy could often abuse the poor with little consequence. There was no Fair Labor Act, to prevent them from firing them from livelihood; no social security or welfare systems. The poor were profoundly vulnerable.

The poor could seek justice through the court system, but all too often, one had to have money to get a judge hear a case. And that was exactly the hurdle to poor could not surmount.

Ancient point of view: the wealthy are untouchable, above the law, while the poor are touchable and beneath the law.

So there is a riddle before the psalmist: How to live in this world, where justice can be so perverted by wealth. Shall he live in fear? (Ps. 49:5)

To find an answer, the psalmist reaches down deep. Ps. 49:3-4. My mouth will speak wisdom, meditation of my heart understanding// incline to proverbs, solve through music.

Going into a spiritual place. Seeking a perspective that rises above immediate experience. The Psalmist is opening to God.

The solution the psalmist uncovers: Ps. 49:7-9. No one is so rich that they are beyond the reach of death.

Psalm 49:7. No one can ransom his own life from death//No one has enough money to buy off God.

Psalm 49:8-9. A dollar figure can’t be assigned to life// (So even if you are rich) you can’t live forever.

The psalmist appeals to the observations of all the singers (Ps. 49:10) "When We look around” Do we see any exception? The wise, the fool, the dolt. They ALL die, and their wealth goes to others. They may have named lands (Ps. 49:11); they may have had houses (Ps. 49:6), they may have had pomp (Ps. 49:12, 20). But they cannot take it with them.

The psalmist is not finding comfort merely in the fact that the rich will one day die and lose all their stuff…the same fate awaits him too, after all.

No, the wisdom that the psalmist uncovers is deeper: it is that at the moment of death, all people — rich and poor alike — will stand before God and God will render justice that cannot be bribed or bought off or softened by privilege.

A markedly different situation than in this world. God will judge and will judge fairly.

The psalmist perceives that the wicked, though wealthy and seemingly above the law in this world, are headed for an eternal grave. (Psalm 49:11) They are like sheep being led to Sheol. Death is their shepherd. (Psalm 49:14)

Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:13-21). The land of a rich man produced abundantly. He thought to himself: I have all I need and more. What should I do? Did he pray to God for guidance? Did he give to the poor? No. Self aggrandizement, self-comfort. Build and store more, while others go hungry. God says, Thou fool, tonight you life is required of you. And what will happen to all that wealth? Well, it won’t spare you from facing divine judgment. Judgment — you have been a fool. “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)

BUT Psalm 49:15. A different fate for the godly, even if in this world they have no money or power. God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol//will receive me. What a contrast to the fate of the wicked.

Consider Psalm 23. The Lord is the shepherd and the destination is the House of Lord.

Jesus said, Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of Heaven.

Wisdom from Jesus and from Ps. 49:16. So, do not give in to fear when the wealthy wrong doers become richer and more powerful, while you suffer. Continue to be righteous and worshipful: God will render justice and when he does the abuse of wealth will be exposed.

INTERPRETATION

Now, some may be tempted to dismiss this Biblical wisdom as a “Pie in the Sky" rationalization.

Isn’t this just what a poor person would say to try and frighten the rich: God’s going to get you!

Or, isn’t this just what the rich would say, let the poor be religious, it keeps their minds off the here and now (like so much opium) so that the status quo will continue in our favor.

But the psalmist is not rich and neither was Jesus. And neither of them are trying to threaten anyone. Instead, they are speaking Biblical wisdom to poor and rich alike.

The Biblical field of reality. There is pie in the sky, and there is hell below.

The Biblical worldview includes vision of God. Our belief in the after-life dramatically informs how we live in this life.

Example of myself or kids, expecting a parent to return or wife to return.

We believe we will be judged. Rich and poor alike. According to our deeds, and not least how we have used the wealth and power entrusted to us.

This is a good thing: awareness of God is what keeps us in a balanced place:

Eat and drink and be merry, it’s all about me. It is not all about me.

Example: the ding I put in an unattended car. Should I leave a note? Include about the dent I received? Do you believe I will provide, protect.

On the other hand, keeps us from despairing, without money or power there is no hope for me. I must live in fear and frustration.

Let us consider that these are Christ’s words to us. Christ speaking the words of Psalm 49 and calling all people to hear him. He paid the ransom for us, and the price was high. Therefore we should be living for him. Whatever you do, do all for the glory of Christ.

APPLICATION

How we hear this Psalm today will be shaped by our own relationship with wealth and with Christ.

If we are wealthy, what does Jesus counsel us?

Tough word. I get it. How often the clergy get bashed.

Are we being true to our vocation?

If we have wealth - we are to be just and generous and responsible with it. Many are. Hospitals, schools, our church.

If we are struggling financially. We are to trust in God and continue to do right. Worship. The psalmist wrote and sang in the temple. Not a sign of being ignored by God.

Are we living in fear or faith?

My experience of non-lawsuit.

When we look at the larger world

We might be the wicked wealthy. Relation to other countries. Relation to other socio-ecomonic groups.

What prayers are we prompting from others?

gratitude or imprecation?A strong word for us to evaluate ourselves

Example: bigger issues in the world. Fair Trade or something?

How do I do this? A call to new practices.

Prayer for contentment. You will never be wealthy if you are not content. When will it be enough? An ever receding horizon.

Tithes — disciplined giving to the church. The church needs you to give. Or, you need to give to the church.

Offerings — free will gifts to whatever prompts you sense of compassion or justice.

Conclusion

Tough questions lead to New happiness and freedom

There is great happiness in working for God rather than working for uncertain wealth. Why do you work for what cannot satisfy? (Jeremiah?) At the end of life, no one saying, I wish I had made more money, more power, but many that say, I wish I had done more for others, loved them, served them, better priorities.

And this is something we can all do, with our without wealth.

For we all belong to Christ who ransomed us.

The best thing in life is THEE! The root of all good is Jesus.

Prayer of Intercession