Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Breath or Delusion?

Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: Psalm 62:9 Those of low estate are but a breath,
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.

Observation: The psalmist has it right.

Application: An article in the news this morning highlighted different perspectives on poverty. Some say poverty should be measured in terms of income. Others say poverty should be measured by spending. In other words, if a family claims to be poor, but has two flat-screen tv’s, are they really poor?

Although the article didn’t go on to say this, I suppose the alternative question could also be raised. If family income is high but spending is low, are they really rich?

In the end, according to the psalmist, it doesn’t really matter. On the one hand we are but a breath; on the other hand, a delusion. Take your pick.

In either case there is a kingdom both offered and available with completely different measures of worth. Old testament prophets and poets may not have personally known Jesus, but they still somehow understood that lasting value was only possible in relation to the creator of the universe. Otherwise, like breaths, we are here and then gone; like delusions, we are not seeing ourselves for who we really are.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see more clearly that our lasting value is only found through you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Isaiah 65-66, Psalm 62, and John 3)

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