No Payment Is Enough

Psalm 49's title says it is For the Chief Musician, A Psalm by the sons of Korah. It is a wisdom psalm, like a teacher speaking to the whole world: Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak words of wisdom. Its lesson is about money. Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. A ransom is a price paid to set someone free. For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough.

Everyone dies, wise and foolish, and they leave their wealth to others. Rich people name lands after themselves, but man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. Then comes the hope: But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. In the New Testament, Jesus says he came to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). So the psalm says, Don't be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away.