THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE

This psalm for the sons of Korah exposes the mistaken confidence that is often displayed in earthly wealth and possessions. Verses 12-20 must be carefully noted. These give great importance to the psalmist’s concern: man is like the beasts that perish! Yet man is in honour! It would seem very clear from these repeated statements, vv. 12, 20, that the wrong attitude to wealth and prosperity robs man of his dignity, and degrades him to the level of beasts. Think on this.

“They that trust in their wealth”, v. 6. Is such confidence wise? We notice the mistakes made in such trust: there are limits to its purchasing power. Even in regard to material things this is true, but when it comes to the deeper demands of the soul, wealth has no relevance. “None … can by any means redeem his brother”, v. 7. There are surely things that money cannot buy. Again, wealth is related to the temporal and transient, v. 11. Materialists would like to stamp their posterity with permanence. Death steals all; such reckoning is folly, v. 13. This is the course of the worshipper of wealth. How vital the truth in verse 14. Wise and foolish, rich and poor, all are levelled together in the grave. Finally, how mistaken is the idea that wealth has value for the life beyond the grave, vv. 17-19. The consummation of life is like its beginning; nothing is brought in, and nothing is taken out. This is true for all. How slow men are to learn this lesson. A man’s life does not consist in the things that he possesses, Luke 12. 15.

In verse 15, how much did David, in his day, know about the higher spiritual values which belong to the realm of the soul? “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me”; what price did the psalmist have in mind as he spoke of redemption? As an Israelite, the great pattern of redemption for him would be linked to the Passover and the blood of the lamb slain. May we remember the precious blood of Christ providing for the believer’s spiritual wealth, 1 Pet. 1. 18-20.

“What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”, Mark 8. 36-37, asked the Saviour as He dealt with the need of distinguishing the priorities of life in following Him. Let us heed Paul’s words when we are tempted to make the mistake of the materialist, “God who giveth … richly”, 1 Tim. 6. 17.