Gaining Perspective

In some teacher training I've done I have taken a picture and enlarged it. Then I have cut out a section of that picture and asked students what they think it is. It is interesting the variety of answers I get because it is really hard to determine the piece without having the benefit of the whole.
I do this exercise to teach the principle of context. It is vitally important to understand every text of Scripture in its appropriate context, otherwise we can make the Bible say anything we want. That would not be helpful to our auditors nor an appropriate way to handle Holy Scripture.
The principle of context has an important life application as well. The pieces of life must be understood in light of a larger perspective if they are to be understood in truth. This is what our readings from Psalm 49 and Isaiah 2 taught us today.
In Psalm 49 the psalmist is wrestling with those who have riches. It is so easy to get caught up with their wealth and their surrounding glory that we lose sight of reality. Looking only at the "piece" we can think these people are godlike.
But the psalmist gives us perspective. He says that no amount of riches can redeem a man's soul. He also says twice that "Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish." Though a man has an abundance of earthly things, at the end of the day he will die just like the animals. His fate is no different, and when he dies he will not be able to take any of his riches with him. Only the man who has made God his riches will declare that God is able to "ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." (vs 15) This is the kind of perspective that we all need and which will help us live wisely.
Isaiah has a similar message. He speaks of those (vs. 6-8) who are full of things (possessions, wealth, power, idols,...). These men are proud and lifted up, and it is easy to be impressed with them. But Isaiah weaves several statements that bring them down to real life. He says in verses 11&17 "And the haughtiness (haughty looks) of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." At the end of the chapter in verse 22 he emphatically says, "Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?" Isaiah looks at the terror of the majestic Lord and views the coming judgment and declares that it is silly to think much of man in his pomp. With his exhoration he urges his readers to gain perspective - to see life from the correct vantage point.
This is a message suited for every age. We are surrounded by people of power, wealth, and prestige and it it easy to idolize, even envy them. But when we gain perspective, when we see the Lord in all His glory, when we see Him as "true riches" we will no longer be impressed with what is at best an illusion. From this perspective we will be encouraged to pursue what is truly valuable and lasting - and if we find ourselves impressed with men at all it will only be those who appear to be "rich toward God" - who have true riches.