Laura and I bought our first house just over a month ago. How did buying our first house change our lives? It didn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, having our own house is a huge blessing and we are extremely grateful that we are able to have a house of our own, but it didn’t change who we are or how we live our lives. It didn’t make us any happier and it didn’t make our marriage any better.
The reality is, our house and our lives are what we make them. Zig Ziglar once said, “Money will buy you a house, but not a home, a companion but not a friend, a bed but not a good nights sleep.”
I felt led to write this post because I believe so many people spend their lives trying to get things that they believe will make them happy. They think:
“If I just get my own house, I’ll be happy. If I just get married, I’ll be happy. If I get that promotion, I’ll be happy. If I accomplish ___, I’ll be happy. If I make $X, I’ll be happy. If I just _______.”
The reality is, if you’re not happy now, you won’t be happy then.
In his book, “The Laws of Lifetime Growth“, Dan Sullivan says the following about money:
“Always make your purpose greater than your money. Greater purpose is essential for lifetime growth. Many people start of their careers thinking that money is the goal. Money can be a useful measure of success or progress in certain circumstances, and it’s a resource we can use to realize greater possibilities, but at some point, money without purpose loses it’s meaning. Money as an end becomes a growth stopper. Having a purpose that is greater than yourself will give you a constant impetus to strive. Purpose gives life meaning and helps us direct and focus our talents and efforts. It also attracts the talents and energies of other whose purpose align with our own. Think of money only as a means of achieving a greater purpose, and you’ll attract all the resources and rewards that make up a rich life, not just money.”
What is Dan saying? He is says that success in life has nothing to do with money or possessions. In my life, I have found that success in life is following God with everything you’ve got, discovering and pursuing His purpose for your life, growing to your maximum potential, and making a difference in the world.
My prayer is that we will be good stewards of everything God has blessed us with, including our new home. I pray that our house will be used for a bigger purpose than just being a nice space for us to live in.
Our hope is that our house will be a blessing to everyone who walks through our doors, that it will be a place where we create memories that will last a lifetime, and a place where we raise a Godly family.
Questions for you:
- Are you happy right now with what you have and where you are in life?
- What are you pursuing that you think will make you happy?
- If real success is pursuing God and His purpose for your life, growing to your maximum potential, and making a difference, are you doing those things? If not, when can will you start?
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