Attitude towards riches

UV 440/10,000 Attitude towards worldly riches Psalms 49 v 20 Psalms 49 v 20 “ A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” A small letter “a” separates the word “ beast” from “ best” and that letter stands for attitudes. Our attitudes are both our address and our true identity- it is where our spirits and minds live and it also defines who we are and where we are going. A man who places his confidence in his wealth is compared to a beast that perishes. His wealth cannot save him on the day of his death. An understanding of God, who alone can save him, is the one thing that distinguishes him from the beasts. No wonder that science that cannot understand God and the things of God places man on par with the beasts, calling all as animals. This uni-verse places the wealthy of this world, the Bill Gates, the Ambanis, the Tatas, the Warren Buffets and you name them, on par with the beasts that perish. Their wealth will perish with them. Recently, I heard a believer taking pride that the CEO of the company he is working in currently is rated among the ten most powerful people in the world. I replied that even the poorest saved soul is spiritually richer, more powerful and significant than Bill Gates. Scripture exhorts us not to be overawed at the splendour of a man’s riches for he will join the generation of his fathers who never saw the light of life. Apart from the Old Testament and the New Testament, the world’s testament also points to God as the author of our salvation. The history of the world is testament to the mortality and transient nature of wealth, beauty and power. When J R D Tata died, his last words were “ It is so sweet to die.” ( si doux a mourir) It will certainly be sweet to die if we truly understand the meaning and purpose of life. But, unfortunately for mankind, the second death is continual and eternal dying that never ends. The price of salvation or to be able to live forever, being so high –it cannot be paid for with all the wealth in the world. It could be paid for only by the best sacrifice of the Best and not of a beast - by the sinless blood of the Lamb that God Himself provided in Jesus, prefigured in the ram that Jehovah provided Abraham to replace his son Isaac. Isn’t it incredible and wonderful that God Himself provided a sacrifice to Himself that is acceptable, perfect and complete payment for mankind falling short of His absolute standards? Prateep V Philip