relationships (Psalm 49:1-20) Worthless or Priceless?

(Psalm 49:1-20)  Hear this, all peoples;

     Listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2   Both low and high,
     Rich and poor together.
3   My mouth will speak wisdom,
     And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4   I will incline my ear to a proverb;
     I will express my riddle on the harp.

5   Why should I fear in days of adversity,
     When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,
6   Those who trust in their wealth 
     And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7   No one can by any means redeem another 
     Or give God a ransom for him—
8   For the redemption of his soul is priceless,
     And he should cease imagining forever—
9   That he might live on eternally,
     That he might not undergo decay.

10 For he sees that even wise people die;
     The foolish and the stupid alike perish 
     And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever 
     And their dwelling places to all generations;
     They have named their lands after their own names.
12 But man in his splendor will not endure;
     He is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are foolish,
      And of those after them who approve their words. Selah 
14 Like sheep they sink down to Sheol;
     Death will be their shepherd;
     And the upright will rule over them in the morning,
     And their form shall be for Sheol to consume 
     So that they have no lofty home.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
     For He will receive me. Selah 

16 Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich,
     When the splendor of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing with him;
     His wealth will not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he congratulates himself—
     And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 He will go to the generation of his fathers;
     They will never see the light.
20 Mankind in its splendor, yet without understanding,
     Is like the animals that perish.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

There are many deceptions in this world that prevent people from seeing Truth, or wanting to see Truth.  Although people's efforts and "good" deeds are as worthless rags, Satan wants us to believe that we are worthless and beyond help, so why or how could God possibly care?  And/or, Satan wants us to believe that we can earn our way to some sort of heaven, in our own efforts and "good" deeds, so why would we even need God's help?  As well, Satan would want us to believe that there is no God, or that there are many different ways to God, and/or there are many gods.

When people accept the theory of evolution or the idea of reincarnation or the religion of veganism, they have to assess and compare their own worth to other creatures.  For people to believe that they are "evolved", they would see themselves as being just a little more valuable than animals.  And for people to believe in reincarnation or veganism, they would have to see themselves as being on the same level as animals, and sometimes even a little lower than animals. 

Notice, it doesn't say anywhere in the Bible that Jesus died so that animals could be saved and have everlasting life, because animals do not have souls, and animals cannot make meaningful choices.  But God created us with one huge difference... we have been created with souls, with the sole purpose of being filled with the Lord in order to have a personal relationship with Him.  And God desires to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us.  Verses 8 and 15 say that because the cost of redemption and salvation is priceless, only God is willing and able to save us.  

Redemption and salvation and eternal life is a free gift to anyone who chooses to believe in Jesus.  No one could every pay enough or work enough to earn that.  And the only thing it costs us - is our pride!!!  It takes a humble and open heart to realize we are sinners in need of forgiveness, and accept and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.  Then, at that very moment, Jesus clothes us with His righteousness and changes us from the inside out, as the Holy Spirit enters one's soul and seals it for all eternity.  

This is a decision that all people, rich or poor, must make.  And when we choose to become a believer, the proof of our faith will be how we live in God's will.  As we ask the Lord to work in and through us, our good deeds will be made worthy when they are done in the righteousness of Jesus.  For these things, He will reward us.