God’s House

Psalm 127 ESV

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Daniel stared at the bread in the grocery aisle. The leftovers were gone. Now it was back to reality. Back to sandwiches. Store brand bread, one loaf, $1.89. He discovered some little meat packs for $0.79. Could he really have a sandwich that wasn’t peanut butter? One pack. He could do 1 pack. And still have enough left for peanut butter. The thought of that Sunday meal flooded his thoughts. Would they invite him to go with them this coming Sunday? His heart stopped. Would he have to pay for his own? He couldn’t do that. 

Sunday rolled around and they didn’t invite him to lunch. He could only guess that he embarrassed them by asking for his leftovers. 

Daniel sat under the tree in the back of the church eating his lunch. A little boy approached him. “Hi,” Daniel smiled.

“You sit here lot.” The boy didn’t smile. Or return a greeting. 

“Well, yes. I guess I do.”

“No friends?” The boy asked. 

“I’m new here. So no. Not a lot of friends, yet.”

“You poor?” The little boy pointed at Daniel’s sandwich. 

“I don’t have a lot of money but I don’t consider myself poor.” He watched the little boy run across the yard toward a few other children. He was obviously reporting back what Daniel said. They pointed and laughed as children do, before running away. 

That Sunday, Daniel felt like the congregation was whispering about him. The little boys eyes instantly shot down to the floor as Daniel walked past. 

Daniel was hit by the thought, ‘was it an issue that he didn’t have a lot of money’? Wasn’t living for Jesus enough? The thought of all the new vehicles. The opulent church building. Even all these flowers; screamed money. 

Was his lack of financial influence going to affect his future at this church? He knew his financial status didn’t matter to God. 

Again, he was not invited to lunch after church.