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Have you ever heard the phrase referring to wealth, “You can’t take it with you?”
This motto originates in Psalm 49 …
For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave (Psalm 49:17, NLT).
American Christians, who make up about five percent of the Church worldwide, control about half of the global Christian wealth. And most of us are making plans to, in a sense, take our wealth to the grave with us.
What do we learn from Psalm 49 about our money?
- Leaving money behind is considered foolish.
Just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. Vs. 10-11
- Leaving money behind in trusts, estates, or memorials is worthless from an eternal perspective.
They may name their estates after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals. This is the fate of fools. Vs. 11-13
- Our money on earth means nothing to God.
They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Vs. 6-7
Let me add a couple of notes – the OG interpretation of Psalm 49.
- There is no eternal reward for leaving money behind.
- We should plan for end of life needs and give a blessing to children and grandchildren. (Proverbs 13:22) But have we made an end-of-life generosity plan?
Has the counsel we’ve received from money managers directed us to leave most of our money behind? I realize that many of us feel poor even though we live in America. But if we make 32k a year we are in the top 1% of wager earners in the world today.
We easily criticize as evil capitalists the 1 percenter types flying over our heads in their private jets. But though we don’t own jet, a yacht, or a house in Aspen …
Probably everyone reading this Interruption is a 1 percenter.
That’s why Psalm 1 begins with …
Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low,
rich and poor—listen! For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. Vs. 1-2
I do have a criticism of Psalm 49.
This Psalm lacks the new covenant teaching about the Spirit of generosity. The Apostle Paul says that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7). It’s easy to give when we love God more than the wealth of this life – a motive empowered by the Spirit.
Let’s remember the warning of Psalm 49 as we determine to become cheerful givers today!