Anglican Devotional 21 April 2024: Do Not Put Your Trust In Riches

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 21 April 2024 – Do Not Put Your Trust In Riches

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TOPIC: Do Not Put Your Trust In Riches

READ: Psalm 49: 1-20(NKJV)

  1. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
  2. Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
  3. My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart [shall give] understanding.
  4. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
  5. Why should I fear in the days of evil, [When] the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
  6. Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
  7. None [of them] can by any means redeem [his] brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him —
  8. For the redemption of their souls [is] costly, And it shall cease forever —
  9. That he should continue to live eternally, [And] not see the Pit.
  10. For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.
  11. Their inner thought [is that] their houses [will last] forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call [their] lands after their own names.
  12. Nevertheless man, [though] in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts [that] perish.
  13. This is the way of those who [are] foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
  14. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
  15. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah
  16. Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
  17. For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
  18. Though while he lives he blesses himself (For [men] will praise you when you do well for yourself),
  19. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.
  20. A man [who is] in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts [that] perish.

THE MESSAGE:

The life of a man does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. The vain glories of earthly wealth and riches have no eternal value – they expire within a specified time. Riches cannot ransom our souls; they will never offer our souls eternal life or grant us immortality of body. The redemption price of the soul is too high to be paid by corruptible things; it is more valuable than all the world (Mark 8: 36). The blood of Jesus alone redeems a soul.

We must not set our hope on uncertain riches. When the wicked man flourishes, do not envy him – he is damned already (Psa. 92: 7); godliness with contentment is great gain. No rich man is buried with stolen money, lands acquired by fraud, houses in various cities, ill-gotten wealth and blood money. As a mere breath, man fizzles out suddenly; he cannot abide in his pomp as his glory vanishes. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life and love for this world are vanities – we must not be entangled with them. Empty we came to this world, empty we must leave; this calls for wisdom. Put the totality of your trust in God; He will provide all your needs.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom in Jesus’ name, Amen.