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I don't think I've ever seen a million dollars at any one time. I do remember writing a check for several thousand dollars when paying for closing costs on a house, nervous about the whole event. But can you imagine purchasing a home for $128 million? Well, it's not just any home. The 12-bedroom mansion was purchased by one of the richest billionaires in the world. He's an Indian steel tycoon who has been named by Forbes Magazine to be # 62 on its list of the richest people on the globe whose net worth is $ 6.2 billion. So, I suppose he could afford it. The sale broke the world's record this past weekend as the most expensive house sale ever.
The mansion in question looks more like a medieval fortress with its stone walls and third story towers on each of its four corners. Along with its 12 bedrooms, it has garage space for 20 cars, Turkish baths, a ballroom, an oak-paneled picture gallery and an ornate basement pool. It is located in London's Kensington Palace Gardens near Kensington Palace where Princess Diana once called home.
Most of us are probably aghast to hear of such eccentricities as this. However, in our honest moments, we too struggle with mainstream materialism in the society in which we live. We must have the latest gadgets, fastest computer chip, more powerful engine, bigger refrigerators, longer reaching cell phones and on and on. Our desire for the newest thing is insatiable. So, lest we be too hard on the fifty-three year old tycoon, Lakshmi Mittal, we too, must do a reality check on our hearts.
I remember once a friend of mine named Charlie McKinney preaching a sermon on Hebrews, chapter eleven. He reminded us that "pilgrims travel light." I have never forgotten that lesson and it's been over twenty years ago. Hebrews, eleven tells the story of faithful men and women of old, such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Rahab, David, Samuel and others. Concerning Abraham the writer says,
"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God…and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth."-Hebrews 11:9-13.
God help us to remember that we are built for something bigger and better than this old world. I understand that we can and do have joy on the journey, but let us not forget that "pilgrims travel light" and though we are grateful for all of God's abundant gifts, let us not get too tied to our stuff.
The same Jesus who said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"-Matthew 6:19, is the same One who promised, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."-John 14:2.
I've got to keep that in mind and remember, "pilgrims travel light!"
Tom Nuckels |