This brought the question to mind: why do we travel? I think people travel for many reasons. Some are good and legitimate, such as seeing the world around them, experiencing what other cultures are like, taking some time for rest and relaxation, exploring a favorite historical or architectural monument, and many others.
However, I know that in my heart and the hearts of many others there are selfish reasons for why we travel. Sometimes I want to travel just to boast to others about my amazing experience, or to say that I've been to more countries than most, or to make the world jealous with my amazing Facebook pictures and how happy my wife and I are.
These reasons for travel are not good, and they won't satisfy us. There will always be someone going to more countries than you, having more income to spend than you, traveling more cheaply than you, posting more amazing Facebook photos than you, and looking happier than you. That will just leave us either feeling despair that we can't keep up with the international Joneses, or endlessly pursuing the next thing and not appreciating and enjoying what God has already given us.
I would submit that we need to check our hearts when we are getting ready to travel somewhere, whether it's back home or to an exotic location. If we have enough discretionary income to travel the world, we need to be trembling on our knees with gratitude to Jesus for it. All of the opportunities we have to travel are pure grace, and we SHOULD enjoy it, but in a way that pleases and honors God, not that exalts ourselves and our pride. Let's check our hearts and travel for the glory of God!
