A man’s life was full of trouble and full of question—and so it was like relief to stand up to certainty, to know that he was in front of reality.”
              –Ernest Haycox  (Man in the Saddle)

    “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.”
              –Proverbs 24:10 (NKJV)
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Slavery is still around today.  In fact, there are more slaves today than ever before in history.  It is mostly referred to now as human trafficking.  However, there are other forms of slavery besides being owned by a person.  Psalm 49, speaks to the issue of “slavery”, or look at it this way, “Do I own, or am I owned?”  Today we look at verses 1-9 to find an answer to that question.

    1 – Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
    2 – both low and high, rich and poor together.
    3 – My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
    4 – I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
    5 – Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
    6 – They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
    7 – Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God—
    8 – since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying—
    9 – so that he may live forever and not see the Pit. (HCSB)

    Verse 1 begins with a cry for our attention.  I like the emphasis that the NLT places on the first verse, “Listen to this, all you people!  Pay attention, everyone in the world!”  The psalmist is trying to get our attention.  He has something important to say.  It is something like this, “live righteously, don’t try to accumulate for you can’t take it with you.”
    There is a little story told by George O. Wood that I like.  It speaks of a young wife sighing as she waved goodbye to some older wealthy friends–“Someday we may be rich.”  Her husband upon hearing this wisely replied, “Honey, we are rich.  Someday we may even have money.”  “Having money does not make you rich, nor does lacking money make you poor.” (Wood)  Where are your riches, your treasures?  In what “bank” are you placing them?  
    One thing in which I have succeeded is that I have successfully kept myself from becoming a millionaire.  I have found that my wealth is in my faith and trust in the Lord, my wonderful wife and daughters and now their families, my friends.  Wealth is in my memory of events, occasions, and sights that I have seen and experienced.
    Ponder carefully at verse 5 and think of life in this day.  So many fear, why?  What/Who are they trusting in?  No matter what happens around me, no matter how evil and sinful those around me are I trust in the heavenly Father and His provision for me.  None of those individuals can purchase my salvation, they don’t have the price, plus the fact that it was already purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
    When I see the audacity and arrogance of some of the rich, I breathe a sigh of relief.  Wealth is a commodity, but many have turned it into thinking it will provide for their every need, even to the grave.  David Allan Hubbard made this statement, “Wealth may deceive us into thinking we are self reliant.”  For sure, when the sod is thrown over us we will all be the same.  A person’s wealth can’t bribe God into a heavenly mansion.  Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.

         “From David’s lips this word did roll,
          ‘Tis true and living yet:
          No man can save his brother’s soul,
          Nor pay his brother’s debt.”
                  –Matthew Arnold

That’s what courage is all about.  You allow your character to control the actions, not your brain.”
              –Stephen Bly  (Throw the Devil Off the Train)

    “…Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge–by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.  Grace be with you.  Amen.”
              –1 Timothy 6:20-21(NKJV)
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Many are scoffing, but let me tell you, God is not mocked.  I mentioned on Wednesday regarding the stand on abortion in this election, now I need to mention the concept of homosexuality and transgendering (if there really is such a thing).  These are an abomination to the Lord.  

         “But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”
                   –Luke 17:29 (NKJV)

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were despicable living in lust and lewdness.  When you go back to read the account it is easy to see that they were well on their way to being reprobate.  The lusted after the angels and demanded that Lot turn them over to them.  How did Lot reply?  Take my daughters instead but leave these alone (Genesis 19:1-11).  Unbelieveable!
    Look at a few more Scriptures regarding Sodom:

          “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked.”
                   –2 Peter 2:6-7 (NKJV)

          “As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
                   –Jude 7 (NKJV)

Don’t be misled or beguiled by the deceivers with the smooth-talking sounds of their lips.  When they proclaim that is just another way to express love.  First of all, they do not know what they are talking about for God is love and He does not approve of anything contrary to His character and His Word.  Secondly, it borders on blasphemy.  Look at the analogy of Christ with His bride, the Church.  In all instances the Church is referred to in feminine form.  Truly that is one of the real reasons behind the push of ungody feminism.  Notice, there is a difference between ungodly feminine agendas and those of the Proverbs 31 woman.
    Cast your vote in this election with this in mind.  The liberal-left is seeking to control the minds of your children, not only that to own their soul.  People who call good–evil and call evil–good are an abomination.  God gives them over to a “debased mind” (Romans 1:28, other versions refer to it as a “reprobate mind”).  Paul goes on to list their evils, but I want you to catch the last phrase of verse 32, “those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (NKJV).  
    If the liberal-left win this election watch out–the gay agenda will run rampant.  In recent years there has been a softening of the stance against the gay agenda.  Do not be misled, the devil wants to destroy your children and grandchildren.  Paul states that you cannot even approve of them.  “Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—” (1 Timothy 6:20, NKJV).

But he prayed for nothing except life, courage, cunning to meet all issues.”
              –Zane Grey  (The Lost Wagon Train)

       “So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?'”
              –Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV)
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We know that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV).  We also understand that “without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV).  So we see that faith is important in obtaining salvation and living for God.  
    However, there is that aspect of faith that we find in James:  “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26, NKJV).  We are saved by grace through faith, and then we must use our faith to produce works.  I’ve borrowed some thoughts from Vine’s Expository Reference Edition Bible that I am going to use in reference to the faith that we should have.  I am just changing the format from paragraph to bullet.

         “Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible…  It must inspire action…  James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that true faith must manifest itself in works of faith.
             –Faith endures trials.  Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance.
             –Faith understands temptations.  It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin.
             –Faith obeys the Word.  It will not merely hear and not do.
             –Faith produces doers.
             –Faith harbors no prejudice…faith and favoritism cannot coexist.
             –Faith displays itself in works.
             –Faith is more than mere words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it overly responds to the promises of God.
             –Faith controls the tongue.  
             –Faith acts wisely.  It gives us the ability to choose wisdom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom that is earthly.
             –Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God.
             –Faith provides us with the ability to resist the Devil and humbly draw near to God.
             –Faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord.  Through trouble and trial it stifles complaining.”

Should I dare ask if you have faith?  Remember, everyone is given a measure of faith.  As believers we are to use our faith; we are to grow and demonstrate our faith.
    To live by faith is not blind, for we know in Whom is our trust.  Living by faith is making choices in the light of God’s Word.  In fact, the best word to describe faith is that of being faithful.  Faithful obedience to God’s Word is a facet of faith.
    As we wait patiently for the return of the Lord, we must live a life of faith.  It might be good to read of those of Hebrews 11.  Read of men and women who lived a life of faith (i.e., Fanny Crosby, Smith Wigglesworth and others).  Money will not get you through the days ahead; career will not see you through the hard times–it is by faith that we live.