November 7, Horses and Bigger Barns

Today’s reading: Psalms 31-35

“No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save”
- Psalm 33:16-17.

It is not known who wrote Psalm 33, but let’s assume it was David. David was a king and warrior who probably knew how to use a horse in battle, and had a large army at his command. Yet he came to this conclusion: none of that mattered in battle if the Lord wasn’t on his side. There are some who put their trust in their bank account, marketable job skills, a lot of powerful connections, or life experience, but none of that will help them in the day of trouble if the Lord is not on their side. What’s more, at some point, their life will end and none of that will help them make their transition to eternity. Jesus told a story about a man who put his trust in his business acumen:

Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.” And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God (Luke 12:18-21).

Are you rich toward God or rich in the things of the world? Where have you put your trust — in your retirement fund, as the man did in the parable, or in God’s ability to provide and protect?