There are
hundreds, if not, thousands of video clips that circulate on social media on a
daily basis. Some have an agenda while others are manipulated to force a
narrative upon us. I have also found that some just speak for themselves. I
came across one of those video clips.
I’ll keep it “anonymous”
as to who this was because my point is context.
I would normally just brush off such a video clip as this, but I couldn’t. The
person involved took the Bible out of context and was “forcing a square peg
into a round hole” to make it justify his lifestyle.
He was expressing
his displeasure with people criticizing him for being very rich. He did not
appreciate that people were voicing their displeasure at his owning a mansion
and having a private jet to fly him around the world. This television preacher
made no apologies for living an “above and beyond” lavish lifestyle. In fact,
he claimed them as a blessing from God.
I would have
just brushed it off at that point and moved on with my day. However, he took
out his Bible and read from the Psalms to prove his point that he was “blessed”
to have the mansion and jet aircraft. It was Psalm 49:16, “Do not be
afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased.”
He went on
and on about how this Scripture says that we shouldn’t be afraid to be rich or
to have extravagant real estate. He went on to claim that he was being blessed by God
spiritually, physically and financially. He was using this Scripture
out of context to justify his elite-level of earthly possessions.
Let’s put
Psalm 49, that he was reading, back into context. The Scripture is actually
warning this preacher about the very thing he is boasting about: possessions and
being rich. This is the same fatal
mistake that the “rich fool” made in Luke
12:16-21. The rich man supposed that his “much goods laid up for many years” could satisfy his soul. He
thought that he could simply tear down everything and build bigger and better.
Our trust, faith
and allegiance is to God and God alone. We live our lives not in the pursuit of
great wealth and earthly possessions, but in the reliance and confidence in the
power and trustworthiness of God. He is our source of Life and our Provider.
One of the
lessons behind Psalm 49:16, is that
the worldly pursuit of wealth, possessions, and vast real estate holdings, will
all be in vain in the end. In other words, no amount of money or degree of
wealth can save you from death. The Psalmist is warning us not to fall into the
trap of thinking wealth will be a safeguard against death.
One may amass
an enormous financial portfolio on this earth, but it will never be enough to “buy
your way” into Heaven. Your privileges in this life will not translate into
eternity. How do we know this? We just need to read the next verse!
Psalm 49:17, “For
when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after
him.” The Psalmist is telling us what we already know which is “you can’t take it with you.” The rich
and wealthy have no advantage over those who are poor or who are financially
struggling. We all die and take nothing with us into eternity.
Our true fear
is a holy and reverent awe of God, our loving Father, who lavishes His love
upon us and bestows the priceless gift of our inheritance when we cross the
threshold of eternity into His Kingdom.
Yes, it was
very disappointing to hear this television preacher use Scripture out of
context to justify his indulgence in wealth and splendor of earthly
possessions. I pray we will stay focused on the reality of the coming Kingdom
of God and being faithful stewards
of what God does allow us to have, own and possess here on earth.
I pray we
will recall the words of Matthew 6:19-21,
Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths
and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Now that is something I can keep in context!