Which of us hasn’t driven through a really exclusive neighborhood and thought to ourselves, “Man, I would love to live here.” Or maybe we’ve taken a walk by the beach and admired a massive yacht floating by that left us wondering how the “other half” does it. No matter who we are, the finer things beckon us, and though there’s nothing wrong with having what the world offers, pursuing it above all else leaves us feeling hollow. While most of us instinctively know this to be true, society continually hounds us with images of how it might be if we would just bow to its idols. The problem is that in the end, doing this will leave us sad. It’s been proven that rich kids and super-successful professionals (such as CEOs) have a higher chance of suffering from clinical depression than others. This is probably because human beings are innately wired to worship someone greater than themselves, and excessive wealth and power make that harder to do. Despite what our culture teaches, we’re created to surrender our egos and serve. In fact, in Blanchard and Hodge’s “Lead Like Jesus” workshops, they teach that the acronym for ego is “edging God out.” When we do this, though we may gain everything the world holds dear, we lose the One who is the only genuine fulfillment for our souls.

My friend, it’s okay to be among the least of these. While society places great emphasis on how much you have and what you do, Jesus sets you free from the burden of making something of yourself. While there’s nothing wrong with attaining success and having nice things, only by keeping Him enthroned in your heart will you find true satisfaction. Everything you accumulate here is but a vapor, but the treasure you store up in Heaven transcends the bounds of eternity. So don’t be discouraged if you haven’t “arrived” in the world’s eyes; rather, rejoice that you can travel light, and cling to the knowledge that one day, you will inherit more than your mind can even imagine!