Death ate the rich man for breakfast

We don’t like to talk about death, but the older I get the closer I am to it. We have this illusion in the Western World that having a lot of money will somehow shield one from the tougher side of death. Psalm 49 talks about how we try to cheat death. Some name buildings after themselves, extending their legacies. Others write books, endow foundations or leave great wealth to their families. Even if you name a country after yourself, you will end up living in a tomb.

Their tombs will remain their houses forever,

    their dwellings for endless generations,

    though they had named lands after themselves.

My last blogpost cautioned us to be careful who it is that we follow: are they the self-made rich concerned about this life, or have they connected their wealth to eternity? For those who know God there is the assurance that death has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So the apostle Paul can ask, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” For Christians, death is not fatal. Yes, we will end up in a grave on earth, but our real home is a mansion in heaven which Jesus is preparing for us.

If, however, our focus is simply on what happens in this life, we have a problem. Even if we mean well and want to save the planet (or ensure we can live on another planet once we have messed up this one, as some hope to do), if we have not placed our trust in God for our eternal destiny we might think we have it all, but we are heading to be breakfast cereal for Death. 

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them…

In parentheses, almost as a throwaway line, scripture completes the previous sentence.

(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).

It is amazing that God “has given us the ability to create wealth.” He is not against being productive and growing capital in all its forms. If we have not connected capital to eternity, however, we risk being toast.