Who's paying the bill?

Psalm 49:7-9; 15:

"7 Truly no man can ransom another,

or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.

Both rich and poor find their way to the grave. Some have a quick and often effortless journey. While others reach that ever leveling destination after long travels and many adventures. Nevertheless, it is an unavoidable end that eerily haunts ands and awaits us all. This the Psalmist contemplates. This he thinks upon, wondering and marveling at its inevitability.

From his meditation he realizes that though the grave shall be the final abode for all men that the wealthy seem to forget this. He notes that the rich boast much and often in their riches; they find their comfort and security in their abundance. They are self-sufficient and have all things at their fingertips. Yet, he calls them foolish. Why?

The answer lies in the above quoted verses. See, the Psalmist knows God and knows the end of the story, so to speak. He knows that in the end of all things, riches and wealth are futile and fleeting. For not even the richest and a most lavish man cannot ransom himself or another to God. He has not near what it takes to pay what he owes to God. For the debt that man stands accountable to God for is infinite and eternal; but his wealth is merely temporal. For, the ransom of one's life is costly and what we, or those richer than we, have to offer can never suffice.

It is only God who can ransom us - and He will! God, in His infinite riches, though disguised and displayed as poverty, will ransom our souls! He loves His people too much to leave us for the troubles of the grave.

In Christ we can have hope. Hope of a life beyond the grave. This is the gospel. That Christ came to die a death that we deserved in order to pay a debt that we could not pay. On the cross He accomplished this and proved it by rising from the grave 3 days later. Thus, in a power beyond all death and sin, He calls us to join in His resurrection. He commits to save our lives if we just believe! Just believe in Him and what He has done. This, the bible tells us, will make us into the richest people to ever live!

For His Kingdom...