Bible Reading: Psalm 49, Revelation: 7:1-8
“They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever :)” Psalm 49: 6-8(KJV).
Men boast of their riches and put their trust in their wealth forgetting that the air they breathe was freely given to them. When God decides to stop their air supply they give up the ghost and lay dead. In their blindness and foolishness they over rate the strength of their wealth as their backbone. They give all their energy to continue to acquire more riches with the hope that the wealthier they are the more they can afford to protect themselves. For this group of persons the Psalmist threw a teaser at them. Four things their wealth or multitude of their riches cannot afford are as stated below:-
- Redemption of a brother’s soul.
- Ransom for one’s own soul.
- Eternal life for the soul, and
- Immortality of the body.
The redemption price of the soul is too high to be paid by corruptible things, as silver and gold. Only God can provide the ransom for the soul of man, “Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” – Job 33: 24(KJV). The four things above that wealth and riches cannot provide was adequately provided in the ransom God found. The atonement God found was in Christ Jesus. God found a befitting ransom in Christ that delivers the redemption of our souls, eternal life for our souls and immortality. “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” – 2 Timothy 1:10(KJV).
The rich and wealthy should learn that both the rich and the poor, the wise and the fool die alike, as there is no special death. Whether you are rich or poor is not a determinant of the redemption of your soul. The rich will go down to the pit likewise the poor, so what is all the boast for. Funny enough we came naked and naked we return to the grave. It therefore takes wisdom for a man to whom God has endowed with riches to humble himself and remain grateful and submissive to the will of the Almighty God. When the rich man dies he leaves his wealth behind for others who may squander it.
In Christ Jesus we have our inheritance and our boast is in the saving grace of our God. It is better to put our trust on God who is the giver and taker of life. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28(KJV), “And fear not them which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”.
Prayer: Father endue me with the spirit of the fear of the Lord so that I can serve you acceptably all the days of my life.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo