God Will Never Leave Us All Alone

by Eric Elkin

“Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house!”

— 2 Samuel 7:11 (The Message)

The housing market is off the rails again. People desperate to buy a house and limited options are driving up prices. Offers well over the asking price are being declined for even higher offers. I am not sure if this is a national condition, but it is true in Minnesota. Right now, there are not enough homes available for interested buyers.

The last time this condition happened in the housing market, it didn't end well. 15 years ago, families willingly over-extended themselves financially to secure a house. In 2008, when the housing market bubble burst, thousands of American's learned there was nothing secure about their homes.

Listening to people talk about trends in the housing market makes me wonder what people are looking to find in a home. The need for more living space is a reason often cited. Yet, I find the standard for the amount of space needed insane. I grew up in a house where six people shared one and a half bathrooms and only had three bedrooms. How did we ever survive?

Today, everyone needs their own bedroom. Even married couples do not think it possible to share a bathroom. Two cars are not enough for a family. Furniture is seasonal and needs to be changed every couple of years. I wouldn't complain about this condition if I didn't listen to people tell me how much we are suffering right now.

“Hey now
Still got to let you know
A house doesn’t make a home
Don’t leave me here alone”

— Paul David Hewson (Bono)

A house doesn't make a home. This phrase is from the U2 song Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own. When people talk about their "Must Have" list for a new home, these words come to mind. A house full of modern conveniences may make life easier, but they do not give life meaning or purpose.

A house makes us feel secure, but it cannot completely protect our hearts. Bono, the lead singer of U2, wrote the song Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, knowing his father was dying of cancer. The verse cited above continues, "A house doesn't make a home - don't leave me here alone." The words remind us that homes, like our lives, are meant to be shared.

In our reading today, David wants to build God a house. He feels a little guilty having made himself a house of cedar without doing something for God. The offer is rejected. While David constructed a house, God will build David a home. The home is a promise of steadfast love and faithfulness.

A confused view of faithfulness is a mistake we often make in thinking about God. People believe their faithfulness to God is the most important thing. As though God only loves us when we are good. What fills our home with security is God's steadfast love and faithfulness to us. God will never leave us alone, even when we try to walk away. This is what the manger is all about at Christmas time.

Click to read 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16