when my First-world sensibilities clash with a hurting world

We've been busy building a new home on our property the past two months. You'd think I would want to shout it from the rooftops, announce it in big, bold letters here on the blog.

But I haven't.

Instead, I struggled before we ever got started.

We prepared for years but should we? Are we vain? Selfish? First-worldly-and-spoiled-kinda-folks when people are starving and poor in Third-worlds?

I've not known how to share my excitement. I've been giddy with materialistic details such as: carpets, paint colors, door types, cabinets, and such. While others 'round the world may find satisfication from food picked from the trash. Or others around my corner who'd be esctatic to know they'll have a job tomorrow or food enough to feed all their hungry mouths.

I live in a First-world, world. But still there's pain here too. I think of the scripture which says to take care of the poor, the widows, the alien and orphans, within your gates. Yes. Even here in all our first-world-worldliness.

A friend from Indiana, who I shared my struggles with, said God looks at the heart, not the outward things.

I've thought of King David building beautiful buildings, mindful of God's handiwork to allow such building in the first place.

But I'm not King David. 

And we aren't building anything of splendor or granduer, nor cities or temples for His people.

Just one lone house on a farm, for us. Even with our organic house church in mind, it's mostly for us, isn't it?

And then there's the economy and world events and how it's affected so many I know.

Maybe it seems foolhardy with so much chaos and instability. But I know Jeremiah bought a field when his world fell apart. When his world was handed over to the Chaldeans and it seemed nothing was left and all was gone. Economically. Socially. Physically. All was swept away. And yet, God said, go buy that field.

 "‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.' For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”’ Jeremiah 32:14 and 15

Yet, I'm not building as a sign from the Almighty. Although it's been a promise given us over 6 years ago, ours is more personal than national.

We've spent the last three years planning, designing our own floor plan to maximize space and reduce costs. A place to house organic church and let it flow naturally from kitchen to living, from dining to prayer, from inside meetings to outside play. But also a place of building house and home, to nuture and school, to live and love on this favorite meadow of mine.

And still I struggle: how do I glorify Him (and build a house) in a hurting world?

I've only been reviewing this myself, just recently:

I put no hope in the manmade. I rest no happiness on earthly structures. I exalt not, earthly riches. I despise not, those good things which are from Above. I reach out to those in crisis. I trust not, the world's finances. I share my food with the hungry. I give away so others may have. I depend alone on God's economy. I place no foundation anywhere but on Christ. I seek the driveway which leads me Home. I shelter only under His wing. I take no pride in the things that burn. I boast not in that which comes to ruin. I favor not, a roof of shingles but instead favor the roof of Heavenly sky. 

I think not, of my own power but of the feebleness of clay hands.

And no matter first-world or third, this I aim to do: Remember Him. Bless Him. Praise Him. Wherever in the world we are, it's not forgetting Him which can't be bought or built.

“Beware that you do not forget the LORD ... lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’" Deuteronomy 8:11,12,17 

  at Laura's place....


 and Jen's too....