Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it.
Proverbs 21:20
I am no expert in either architecture or design, but there is something about Orlando’s “The Mall at Millenia” that really captures my attention. I especially appreciate the way the light interacts with the space and the glass and the steel and the other materials.
The other thing about Millenia is the crazy concentration of classy, expensive, exclusive and beyond expensive stores. All the major design labels, all the unaffordable jewelry and watches and handbags and perfume, all the top-level anchor department stores.
Just for fun we wandered into Banana Republic. I picked out a pair of pants I liked, a nice comfortable shirt, a light linen jacket and a pair of casual shoes – a basic relaxed but classy outfit. Well over one thousand dollars!
I am not denying this is high quality clothing. But no, of course I didn’t buy any of it! Regardless, we absolutely enjoyed sauntering around in each other’s company, window shopping and people-watching, trying to decide if the couple who actually did purchase merchandise at the Banana Republic were also the ones who pulled up to valet parking in the Bentley as we were coming in.
We did make one purchase, however – it was a sandwich at the Chick-fil-A in the food court. Then it was off to see the middle school orchestra and our granddaughter Beks playing cello – but that is another post.
Jesus is in the abundance business!
The verse from Proverbs talks about the difference between good stewardship and letting our resources go to waste (it’s a useful prelude to Christ’s teachings around abundant life). Not just squandering money but our talents and gifts and blessings. The sad thing about the character in the latter half of the proverb is how they don’t realize that – if they are thoughtful and faithful – they can still enjoy their blessings without losing them… and be generous too.
but it helps!
This is the invitation of the gospel. Not to asceticism but to abundance, abundance within the framework of faithful, generous, reasonable, Christ-centered living.
“Do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for [your]selves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that [we] may take hold of the life that really is life.” – 1 Timothy 6:18-19
The life that really is life! – DEREK
