It is a vain thing to worship idols; idols are statues that man makes to worship. They become the object of their worship. It is vain to worship idols because idols can't talk, idols can't hear, idols can't move, idols can't understand you, idols cannot help you. They are just statues.

But I think idols are more than statues, anything that we depend on, desire, and delight in more than God is an idol. And therefore that includes wealth, because there are plenty of people who desire wealth, delight in wealth, depend on their wealth above God. Wealth has taken the place of the true and living God, and wealth has therefore become an idol, it has replaced God.

But it is also very foolish because wealth, like a statue, cannot save us, it cannot help us, it is vain. That is what is said in Psalm 49:6 onwards, it says, "They that trust in their wealth", and the Psalmist goes on to say and to describe people who trust in their wealth, it is foolish. You can't use wealth to save yourself. And he says in verse 10 that you actually leave your wealth to others. Now you may think in verse 11 that your houses shall continue forever, and your dwelling places to all generations, you call the lands after your own names, but you do not realize it is all going to go. Basically, the Psalmist is giving us a reality-check money is not forever. There is no such thing as freehold property. Nothing here last forever. You can't bring it with you, you have to leave it all behind.

But somehow, we don't believe it. But as you look at Psalm 49, I pray you will see through the delusion and the deception of wealth. It promises you joy, it promises you security, it promises you peace but one day it will all be taken away from you, and in the words of Jesus, it is like where thefts break through and steals. Treasures on earth do not last, and if you take them to be your god your idols, you will be sorely disappointed on the last day of reckoning.

So would you turn from wealth and come to the true riches in Jesus Christ? Only Jesus, only God, is our hope and our assurance. So turn from serving wealth and idols, and come to serve the Lord Jesus. May God bless you with the reading of His word, God bless.

http://www.pastorjasonlim.org
http://www.glcc-online.org
http://www.twitter.com/pastorjasonlim
http://www.facebook.com/pastorjasonlim