The Wehrles

We’re moving! We’re moving into a wonderful new house in a wonderful part of the country with wonderful prospects for serving Jesus. This should be great. But, as I’ve found with all of my possessions whether big or small, they simply can’t bring joy, or worse, they can be downright unsettling.

I think my Bible hero, David, dealt with the same thing when he moved into his new home:

Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, “I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”

Can I be loving God and neighbor when I live in a really nice new home? Am I really following Jesus if I am putting all this money into a house and furnishings and so little effort and money into serving him?

David proposed to fix this situation by building God a magnificent temple. Here’s a summary of God’s answer to David:

You shall not build me a house to live in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

The problem with salving our conscience by providing “God” with material possessions is that… well… God never asked for them! Some folks will point to some verses in the Bible where God demands the tithe from his people or where Jesus asks a rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. But these are never because God has need of a house… or even our possessions.

God wants my heart… God wants my life…

I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.

So what about my new house? Well… It’s a gift, really. I can’t explain it. I don’t deserve it. I cannot give God something back to reciprocate… nothing that is except my heart… my love. In fact, if I’m honest with myself, I didn’t will myself into living. I didn’t single-handedly bring my children to life. I don’t independently provide for them. God has built a house and a family for me because God loves me and includes me in God’s story.

More from God:

I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went… Moreover I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house.

And this home on Victor Court and this family I experience here on earth… Jesus says that these are just the beginning:

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

So what about this unsettling feeling? Well, I think all I can say is that it’s a valid emotion. But, it doesn’t come from receiving this wonderful gift from God. It comes from focusing on the gift rather than the giver. The new home… it’s a gift from God. My new heart… it’s a gift from God. What should I do with them? I need to love Jesus… and I love him best by loving my neighbor.

See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Our home is with Jesus. He doesn’t ask us to build it. That’s his job. But he does ask us to love him and to love one another with all that we are and with all that we have.

On that note, we’re moving in on June 23^rd, and after that, you are welcome to visit or come and stay with us!