This week Chris and I did something for the first time in our 10 years of marriage - we bought a house! During those 10 years we have moved 4 times to 3 different states while preparing, training, and serving in ministry, and the Lord has finally led us to Lindale, Texas, where, Lord willing, we hope to serve for many, many years to come.Honestly, there have been many times where we have been discouraged at the thought that we may never be homeowners, but the Lord graciously reminded us that Jesus was never one either. In Matthew 8, Jesus said, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Jesus was not concerned with home-ownership as much as he was leading people to his Father.
In Matthew 6, verses 19-21 says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." While owning a home is a wonderful blessing, it is not a God-given right or necessity. Homes break. They burn. They are easily destroyed, but the Kingdom of God is forever!
Yet, God, is his graciousness, still provides for our earthly needs! He doesn't stop in verse 21, but anticipates that we, as weak sinners, will be anxious about what we will eat and wear and drink and assures us by telling us, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Verses 31-33). Even though we look to eternity, God will still provide for our earthly needs. It may not always be in the ways we are expecting, but he always provides for His people. We have seen this so evidently in our lives over the last 10 years of our marriage. There has never been a time where the Lord has not provided for our physical needs.
As we reflect on this weekend and celebrate the closing of our first home, we are so thankful for this earthly blessing the Lord has given to our family. James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." This new home is certainly a good gift. Even more so, we are thankful for our eternal home with Jesus that will never spoil, perish, nor be destroyed - what an even better and more perfect gift.
Merry Christmas from The Dilleys!
