Ps. 49: Emptiness in Riches

Psalm 49:20 "A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish."

I thought of one thing when I read through this 49th Psalm. You know the type. Generally wealthy. Possibly purveying false teachings. Counting more on their riches than the faith they profess. Sounds a bit like televangelists, right? Those whose messages are just bland enough and just broad enough to hook in as many people as possible. Consider their homes. Their palatial sets and wigs. But they will die. And so will their followers, those who trust in the words they say. Those who get taken in by slick. By non-specific feel-good language. Sure, they have riches, but do they have understanding? 

Everyone dies, the Psalmist wants no mistake. Just like animals, we die. We perish. And all the stuff we cram our homes with. That endures, albeit briefly. The rich reside in tombs for more "time" than they do their palaces. What is remembered? The man, or the money? What kind of man is remembered only for being rich? Consider today who is only known because of their wealth. The scripture tells us not to be overawed at this. I looked up Lebron James' house and couldn't help but be amazed. MTV Cribs is built entirely on rejecting Psalm 49:16. 

Death is irreversible. And no man is able to redeem the life of another man. No one can bring someone back from the grave. That's not how it was meant to be. God Himself is the only one capable of that (v. 15). The psalmist writes that after the grave, God will call him to himself. In contrast to the rich man without God, he will see the light of life.