Woe for the one who builds his palace

through unrighteousness,
his upstairs rooms through injustice,
who makes his neighbor serve without pay
and will not give him his wages,
who says, “I will build myself a massive palace,
with spacious upstairs rooms.”
He will cut windows in it,
and it will be paneled with cedar
and painted bright red. Jeremiah 22:13-14

            God has no problem with big houses and expensive palaces.  What concerns Him is how the money and power was attained.  If done through dishonest gain, God despises the house.  If done through blessing and hard work, God seems to have no problem.

            God is also concerned with the purpose for building a large house.  To honor Him or to give glory to the one who lives inside.

            Kings like the ones in Judah during Jeremiah’s time showed no concern for the poor and oppressed.  They ignored God and sought ways to excel in their own lives. 

            People of power have a responsibility to help those without power.  God elevates His people to remember those who they were once like.