This week Justin Cook shares a story from a recent family beach vacation in Florida. While walking along the shore, he saw a young boy who had built an impressive sandcastle complete with towers, a moat, and seashells. Moments later, another child came through and completely destroyed it, leaving the little boy devastated.

That moment became a powerful picture of how we often live as adults. Even though we grow older, many of us still spend our lives building “castles” — out of our careers, our families, our possessions, and even out of other people. These castles can look impressive, and others may admire what we’ve built. But like sandcastles, they are temporary.

Drawing from the words of Jesus and the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12), Justin contrasts building castles with building the Kingdom of God. Castles are built to protect and impress, often keeping people out and punishing those who fail. The Kingdom, on the other hand, is marked by grace, inclusion, and eternal purpose.

This devotional challenges us to examine our priorities: Are we building castles that will eventually wash away, or are we investing in the Kingdom that will last forever?

This Week’s Challenge:

Take some time to reflect on what you’re building with your life right now. Ask yourself honestly: Am I building castles for temporary approval and security, or am I building the Kingdom of God?