What is the "American Dream"? Is it how big of a house you own (or are in debt in), how many cars you drive, how many Facebook friends you have, how high up you are at a company? Or a culmination of a lot of things? (Not that all of these things are bad. If God blesses you with provision, praise Him!)
God has really been opening up my eyes to desire less and less of what our culture defines as success. My amazing husband has always had a yearning for a simple, debt free life; but its taken this gals soul a few years to get there.
But I'm there. I desire less. I want to be debt free, without a mortgage or student loans. I want to have the freedom to put our money towards the present and a little towards the future, but always remembering our wealth on earth is gone in an instant. The money of today will be gone tomorrow. Our treasures lie in the investment of advancing the Gospel not in the investment of our retirement which may or may not come.
The Bible is flowing with scripture on where and how to store you treasures.
“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Luke 12:33, 34 MSG)
“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” (Matthew 19:21 MSG)
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG)
A miser in a hurry to get rich doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke. (Proverbs 28:22 MSG)
Although at 20 if you asked me at 30 what my "American Dream" is, the answer would have been to own a house with a family.
At 27 my answer is I desire a debt free, simple life where I can focus on sharing the Gospel with my children, raising my children to fear The Lord, to love unconditionally, and show grace in all circumstances.
My prayer today is that as we are striving towards obedience on the call God has placed on our hearts, that he gives us the desires of our hearts. That we flourish in His love and grace. But most of all we can advance His kingdom by living a simple life focused on His glory. Amen.
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