Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases. (Ps. 49:16)
When our daughter was going to college in West Palm Beach, Florida, my husband and I would drive up and down the coast to ooh and aah at the homes. These mansions looked more like museums or professional buildings than homes built on the ocean’s edge. Wealthy families occupied these picture-perfect residences with palm tree-lined driveways and meticulously manicured grounds. Although requiring fulltime staff, some were used only for vacationing a few weeks each year.
Envy would creep in on me. Jealousy would tease. My dream was to have a beach home large enough for our entire family to vacation together while enjoying private spaces or at least a bathroom for each family.
Envy and jealousy are not from God. They are deceptive schemes of the Enemy who wants us to concentrate on earthly wealth instead of eternal treasures and draw us away from God’s best for us. Yes, beach houses are wonderful blessings, but they cannot become our god. They will not go with us when we pass. Psalm 49 describes the outcome of those who put their trust in such earthly riches.
Revelation 21 gives us a sneak peek of our eternal home with Jesus. It will be more breath-taking than any three-story, fifteen-bedroom, eighteen-bathroom beach mansion. It’s going to be awesome.
Focus on the eternal and trust God to build your heavenly home.
Kathy Troyer, and her husband of forty-six years, are active in Cultivate [Wesleyan] Church in Indiana. They love spending time with their family—especially thirteen grandkids.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
