May 26, 2020

Today’s Reading Psalm 49

For the last five weeks I have looked forward to Sunday nights at 9pm. Those of you that know me know I am a huge sports fan, and I am a big fan of Michael Jordan. ESPN has been doing a documentary on his last season with the Chicago Bulls called “The Last Dance” in the world of basketball and all of sports for that matter it doesn’t get any bigger or greater than MJ he is the GOAT (greatest of all time) of all GOATs. In his career he won 6 NBA titles 5 MVP Awards a Defensive Player of the Year Award selected to numerous All Star Games and many other awards and recognitions I won’t even go into, he is worth an estimated $2.1 Billion dollars (that’s Billion with a B) There is literally nothing left that MJ didn’t accomplish in his career. Why did I tell you all of that you ask, reading Psalm 50 made me think of MJ. Let me first say I’m not claiming MJ is unsaved or anything like that, it’s between him and the Lord, let me quickly explain. Verse 1 and 2 of Psalm 49 tells us the audience in need of hearing this is everyone. As great as MJ was and the fortune he has amassed does not make him exempt from the following truths, the same goes for you and I also.
#1 wealth cannot prevent death (V 5-12) we all know it isn’t a sin to be wealthy and achieve great things as long as we keep God in his proper place and use those resources and achievements to glorify Him. It must be kept in the proper perspective. There is a lot we could talk about in these 8 verses but I know you don’t want to read all day, verse 12 sums it up pretty well. Verse 12 isn’t saying man and beast are on the same level, but that the end fate for man and beast are the same, we’re both mortal. No matter riches or accomplishments we will all face the grave one day.
#2 Wealth will not determine your destiny (V 13-15)Again I know this is something you know so I won’t spend a lot of time on this.
#3 Wealth must not increase our desires (V 16-20) Here is the part that spoke to me the most. Do you find yourself looking at a neighbors new car or a friends new boat, maybe we see on social media that someone bought a new house or went on a vacation we’d like to go on? That’s what these last few verses address. Job 1:21 tells us that we won’t be taking anything with us when we leave this world, Pastor Joe used to say a lot “I’ve never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse “ we may not be able to take anything with us but we sure can send some treasure up ahead of us. We may not have wealth on this earth, but we possess and endless amount of eternal riches that will never be spent up or lose its value. I’ll end with a quote from Warren Wiersbe “It’s good to have things that money can buy, if we don’t lose the things money can’t buy.” There is nothing wrong with wealth and accomplishments as long as we worked hard and earned it honestly, spend it wisely, and invest faithfully in that which pleases the Lord.

Frank Newsome