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Illustration for Psalm 49: Do Not Fear the Rich

Psalm 49

Do Not Fear the Rich

WisdomCourageWhen Afraid

This is a wisdom psalm that says: don't be scared of people who are rich and powerful, because money can't buy their way out of death! Only God can rescue a soul from death. Being rich doesn't make someone important to God.

  1. 1Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world—
  2. 2both low and high, rich and poor alike:
  3. 3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
  4. 4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
  5. 5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
  6. 6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
  7. 7No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—
  8. 8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
  9. 9that he should live on forever and not see decay.
  10. 10For all can see that wise men die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
  11. 11Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
  12. 12But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
  13. 13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers who approve their sayings. Selah
  14. 14Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
  15. 15But God will redeem my soul from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
  16. 16Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;
  17. 17for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
  18. 18Though while he lived he counted himself blessed— and men praise you when you prosper—
  19. 19he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life.
  20. 20A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

What it means

It is easy to feel small next to people who have more money or nicer things. This psalm says: don't be afraid of them. Money cannot buy anyone an extra day of life, and it cannot buy God's love. Only God can rescue us, and He gives that freely.

A little prayer

God, sometimes I feel small next to people who have more than me. Help me remember that money cannot buy the things that matter most. Thank You that You rescue me and that I belong to You. Amen.

Memory verse

“But God will redeem my soul from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself. Selah”

Psalm 49:15 (BSB)

It is the psalm's answer to everything it has just torn down: God is the one who does the buying back.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says money cannot buy anyone out of dying. Why is that worth saying out loud?
  2. It tells you not to be impressed when someone gets rich. What are people impressed by at your school?
  3. What do you actually take with you when you go?
  4. What is something valuable that costs nothing?

Try this

The suitcase

Open a bag and pack the five things you would take if you were leaving for good. Then take out everything that only works because of money. Look at what is left.

You will need: A bag and some things to consider.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)