Lord, you have been our dwelling place. (Ps. 90:1)
SOLOMON AND MERINA never lived in an elegant house. When I first met them, they were living on property owned by Summer and West Mine, a few miles east of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Their house was made of mud and thatching. Due to heavy rains, it was a mess. Part of the thatching had been blown away by strong winds. Upon entering their hut one could look up and see the sky. Due to the rains, part of the mud wall had caved in.
Several months later, they moved into another house that was stronger, but it still lacked elegance. The walls were made with large cement blocks, and corrugated asbestos sheets served as its roof. It had only two small rooms; one room served as their bedroom, and the second was a combination living room, kitchen, and dining area. However, they never complained.
Solomon told me, “I am thankful to God for a place where I can find protection from the sun, wind, and rain. What more do I need? I have chairs to sit on, a small table to eat at, and a bed to sleep in at night. Truly I am a satisfied man. Besides, God is my dwelling place. My earthly home may not be fancy, but the day is coming when I will be living in a mansion He is preparing for me right now!”
Remember that contentment cannot be measured by how much you have.
Jim Lo is the author of Connect with God: The Purpose of Prayer (Wesleyan Publishing House) and the dean of chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University.
