“What do you want to be when you grow up? Or what is your ambition in life” Both questions must have been asked again and again by our teachers, parents or maybe debating in our head since we were young. Some wish to become successful businesspeople, multimillionaires; others wish to become popular entertainers—TV or movie stars; still some others wish to become influential people like powerful politicians or respectful scholars and teachers to be respected in their circles. Whatever our dreams are, we definitely want to be “a somebody”, to be famous, to be recognized by this world.

In the book of Jeremiah, Prophet Jeremiah mentioned of a family—the Recabite family who were different from their countrymen in many ways. They didn’t drink wine, nor did they build houses to live in or work on the field. They were nomads and lived in tents moving around. They could’ve lived like other Israelites having houses, vineyard, fields and crops and delighting in life. But they obeyed Jonadab their forefather’s command living as nomads without building houses and working on the farm. They didn’t turn away from their forefather’s instructions and orders even their lives could be made difficult and hard. Besides their tents they had nothing to depend on. Their purpose in life was to carry out the command their forefather gave to them. However God told Jeremiah to say to the Recabite family that the descendants of Jonadab would never fail to have a family member to serve him (Jeremiah 35: 19).

I am wondering that the children of the Recabite family might be sometimes complaining or arguing with their parents or elders about the living conditions they had. “Why do they not have houses like other Israelites to live in? Why are they not allowed to drink wine? Why are they not allowed to grow crops? Why do they need to be nomads and wander around one place to another? The Recabite children must have many hopes and dreams in their lives, but they could not and they must obey the command of Jonadab their forefather. Their obedience has touched God’s heart and God has recognized their faithfulness and perseverance. He promised that one man form his family would serve him.

Which is more blessed, to serve God or serve this world? To be well known in this world or to be known by God? For the Recabite family they are blessed.