Invest in the Imperishable (Psalm 49 Devotional)
“Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me - those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?” – Psalm 49:5-6
Back in the late 1990s, I started investing in the stock market. And I mostly invested in Tech stocks. And I was a genius. All my investments did great. I had the Midas Touch. And then the bubble popped. All the money I made was just gone in an instant. I wish I could say I learned my lesson and realized that I can’t gain security through acquisition.
We live in a society where people can live under the illusion of self-made security. Of course, everyone knows it’s all temporary. They know that one day they will die and leave it all behind. But in the meantime, they try to make wise decisions, work hard, and with diligence and cleverness build their kingdoms.
For some, they gain abundance and grow wealthy. For others, wealth, and the “security” it brings eludes them. In many people’s lives, there is an underlying current of worry that runs through their lives concerning security and their future. But still, they strive to eliminate that insecurity by gathering as much stuff as they can. They believe subconsciously that the game of life is won by possessing. They dream of hitting the lottery, landing the big job, or somehow having enough that they won’t have to fret. They claw, grab, and grasp.
But the picture of security painted in the Bible runs contrary to the picture the world paints.
The world says we gain more security by gathering wealth, but the Christian realizes that all we have is on temporary loan from God - the real owner.
Further, the only things we actually keep are the things we give away. Everything we think is ours -wealth, possessions, acclaim, power, and pleasures will all fade away like a dream upon waking when we face Christ. But the love we give, the gifts we share, and our resources used to advance God’s kingdom in some way, all will impact not just the here and now, but eternity.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be mirrors that reflect God’s light, not magnets pulling all things to us.
Questions for Thought
Where have you placed your security in this world?
Will it live up to what you’ve placed in it?
How would God have you view those things?
