In these three chapters, we see some POWERFUL truths!!
1) You Can't Win God Over With Money!
I read an article one day about a guy who paid to have himself buried in a cemetery behind the wheel of his expensive Ferrari. On his gravestone it reads, "Who says you can't take it with you?"
Despite his lame attempt to cheat death in some way, we all know he didn't take it with him. For centuries, the Egyptians (and other cultures) would mummify some of the wealthiest of society and bury them with things they thought they might need in the afterlife. Sadly, when King Tutankhamen was found, none of his essential afterlife joys were used. As King David says,
"Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave[b] is their eternal home, where they will stay forever."
While we'd all like to be rich, have an excess of money, and be able to live the "dream life," - King David begins with chapter 49 speaking about the futility of riches. For example, he says that a person's riches cannot buy eternal life:
"They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God."
People may be able to rely on their money to buy what they want here in this life, however they can't buy the most important things - like hope, eternal life, or even God's favor. God isn't in or impressed by your money. He has no need for it. He's undaunted by it. In fact, He reminds us in Haggai 2:8 - "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." God owns everything! He owns it all. Just as He says in the next chapter - Psalms 50 - "for all the world is mine and everything in it." So, it's impossible to use your money to buy favor from God.
David goes a step further and reminds us that even though the rich try to have buildings named after them, they'll eventually be forgotten. It's so true! It happens every day. We travel roads and highways and buildings named after famous and/or rich people, but do we care? No. We never even give it a thought!
I like how David finishes the chapter. He reminds us of how foolish it is to boast in riches. Here's why:
"In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success...People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals."
2) You Can't Win God Over With Your Religious Sacrifices!
In Psalms 50, we see God as being frustrated. He tells the children of Israel that while their sacrificial gifts to Him in the form of sacrificed animals was a good thing (an act of obedience according to Moses' law), He was seeing a HUGE lack in the most important things to His heart. He wanted them to know He was more interested in His people having a heart of gratitude and living a holy life!
God is letting us all know that even thought we might make physical sacrifices of our time and effort for His glory, the most important thing He wants is our heart! More than our time, our money, and our ministry - He wants us, our heart, an intimate relationship with us and a grateful and joyful heart that produces a life of holiness.
God is letting us all know that even thought we might make physical sacrifices of our time and effort for His glory, the most important thing He wants is our heart! More than our time, our money, and our ministry - He wants us, our heart, an intimate relationship with us and a grateful and joyful heart that produces a life of holiness.
In fact, He lists some charges against the people of Israel. See if you can relate to any of these:
- You don't show a heart of gratitude!
- You don't keep your promises to God!
- You don't call on Him when you're in trouble allowing Him to save you and receive glory!
- You talk the talk, but you don't walk the walk.
- You have no interest in studying God's Word.
- You don't mind hanging around the wrong crowd.
- You say bad things!
- You lie!
- You slander others!
Sadly, God ;reveals something about Himself we never consider. Often we think God acts immediately when we sin. He doesn't. In fact, look at what He says:
"While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care."
Since many of us are under the wrong impression of His long-suffering, when often assume that since God doesn't "spank" us immediately, He must not care. However, the truth is, He's observing it and writing it all down. One day we'll pay for the things we do that goes against His Nature. You may get away with it now, but there will be payday some day!
3) You Can't Win God Over Without True Repentance!
Many scholars have noted Psalms 51 as being the chapter where David cries out to God regarding his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and the calculated murdering of her husband, Uriah. David is in anguish over his sin! In fact, it stole his joy away. There's nothing emotionally more painful in life than deeply hurting the one you love the most David loved God dearly, but through his sin he knew he had hurt the heart of his God. It brought him into dark depression.
He also knew God wasn't going to be satisfied by any physical sacrifice he could possibly make. He knew that his heart had to change! He understood what God wanted most - a heart of true repentance. Listen to what he says:
"You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
What unconfessed sins are cluttering up your life? If you're feeling as though God is a million miles away, it may be that YOU'VE walked away from Him - that you've sinned against Him - and that you need to cry out to God like King David requesting forgiveness and saying, "Don't take your joy away - don't take your Holy Spirit away - and give me back a good heart and the joy of knowing you."
If so...get your heart right with God TODAY!!!
If so...get your heart right with God TODAY!!!