Psalm 49:5-9. "Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me?" People who trust in wealth and their abundance of earthly riches cannot save themselves. No one can ransom his own life, or pay to God to save him. His money is never enough for his life. No one can pay earthly riches to live forever and avoid the Pit.

This is an example of the counterintuitive, upside down nature of our faith. How valuable is an individual life? So valuable that no amount of money can be paid to save it! So how is one saved, then? By becoming humble enough to accept the gift of eternal life from our God who loves us enough to die himself to give it to us! How do we become that humble? By giving up entirely our attachments to the things of this world; by giving away our wealth and riches in service of God and his people; by putting them entirely at his disposal.

When we empty ourselves, we are filled. When we give away our riches, we are showered with them. When we die with Christ we live forever with him. Why should we fear in times of trouble, indeed?