Psalm 49:16-17 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
When I read this verse and chose it to journal on today, my original intent was to discuss how Americans are overawed with celebrity. There are so many magazines and tv shows devoted to exalting movie stars, sports stars and music stars that I can’t even begin to count them. There’s the whole reality show industry devoted to finding the next star. And there was a story on the Today show this morning about teens videotaping themselves doing outrageous things in hopes of gaining the attention of someone who will put them on TV.
That was the original intent.
Instead, God pointed out that I have a problem with splendor and it needs to be dealt with. You see, I love jewelry. I mean, I really love it. And not just any jewelry, but glitzy jewelry designed to attract attention. And I have lots of it, and I want more, and more, and more. At what point is enough really enough for me? None of my sparkle-filled jewelry from earth will follow me into heaven.
In fact, I have so much jewelry that I had to buy a floor chest to house it all. None of it is real, but that doesn’t really matter does it?. I have it because I, well, if I’m going to be honest, I like to show it off and myself. A lot of this jewelry, I earned for free from a company I used to sell it for. So, telling people I earned it for free because I had high sales, makes me look like a hotshot salesperson – at least in my head it does. Again, so what? The jewelry itself isn’t the problem, but my attitude towards it is.
Why do I need earthly splendor? What does it really show? I think it shows my predilection for this world and its riches instead of those not of this world. When I wear it, do people see me pointing to Christ or to myself?
Today, I’m rethinking splendor.
Natalie Ames 