Richard Hollerman

Is worldliness really worth the price? I just saw on the Internet about 250 different “celebrities” who have houses (or palaces) in posh areas or desirable places. I suppose that they ranged from one million to 60 million dollars! Many lived in Los Angeles but other places are represented—from Santa Monica to Nevada to other countries, such as Italy and France—but most seemed to be from Los Angeles and environs.

We ask about materialism and worldliness, for all of these owners or celebrities, at least some of them, are now dead but perhaps the majority are still alive (physically). The questions that we are compelled to ask in light of the lavish lifestyles and rich living standards of these people would be: Will it really be worth it years from now? In 50 or 100 years, will any of these famous and well-known personalities really fare well?

There is no indication that any of them really had a saving relationship with God through Christ Jesus. There is no real reason to believe that any of these personalities know God at all. Yes, they had plenty of money, they had massive amounts of pride, and they had both fame and power and influence, thus reputation that was laudable. But surely they were lost.

There is no indication that any of these several hundred persons knew God at all. They were stars or well on their way to stardom. They were known by millions. And they had estates that were profound. Their lavish homes that were such an impediment and luxury to them, enabled them to have fine vistas, lovely weather, and were virtually tropical paradises! But, again, they must have been lost (or are lost now). But we know that God alone matters. He will pronounce sentence upon us all, not by the amount of our portfolio or the luxurious homes in which we dwell, but what really matters is whether we know God Himself!

As I was viewing the lavish and even beautiful surroundings, the landscape, the 10-60 acre spreads, the 20-50,000 square feet palaces, the furniture and furnishings of these homes, I thought of the 40, 50, 60, or 70 years that they would be enjoyed. One little earthquake or fire would level the houses. What these worldly people experienced would soon be gone and would no longer be experienced. How true are the words of God: “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).