Let me be honest about something I’ve wrestled with.
How do I reconcile being a follower of Jesus and a real estate broker who serves clients in Oakland County’s $500,000 to $1 million market?
Is it biblical to help people buy expensive homes when there’s so much need in the world? Can you honor God while living in a house worth more than most people will earn in a decade? Am I helping people build God’s kingdom or just padding their comfort?
I’ve prayed about this. I’ve studied Scripture. I’ve sought wise counsel. And here’s what God has shown me through His Word:
It’s not about the house. It’s about the heart.
The question isn’t “How expensive is too expensive for a Christian?”
The question is “How are you stewarding what God has entrusted to you?”
Let me walk you through what Scripture actually teaches about wealth, stewardship, and how that applies to buying or selling a home in Oakland County’s luxury market.
What Scripture Actually Says About Wealth
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Is wealth itself sinful?
No.
1 Timothy 6:10 is often misquoted as “money is the root of all evil.” But that’s not what it says.
It says: “For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
The issue isn’t money. The issue is loving money more than God. Making it your security. Hoarding it instead of stewarding it. Worshiping it instead of using it for Kingdom purposes.
Scripture is full of wealthy believers who honored God:
- Abraham – extraordinarily wealthy (Genesis 13:2)
- Job – the richest man in the East (Job 1:3)
- Joseph of Arimathea – wealthy enough to own a tomb and provide for Jesus’ burial (Matthew 27:57)
- Lydia – successful businesswoman (Acts 16:14)
God didn’t condemn their wealth. He entrusted them with resources for Kingdom purposes.
But here’s the consistent biblical principle:
Luke 12:48 – “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Wealth isn’t permission to indulge. It’s a stewardship responsibility.
So if God has blessed you with the financial capacity to purchase a $650,000 home in Royal Oak or a $850,000 home in Birmingham – the question isn’t “Should I feel guilty?”
The question is “How do I steward this resource in a way that honors God and serves His purposes?”
The Oakland County Context: What Does “Luxury” Actually Mean?
Before we go further, let’s talk about what we’re actually discussing when we say “luxury real estate in Oakland County.”
I’m not talking about $5 million estates with private elevators and wine cellars. I’m talking about the $500,000 to $1 million market.
Here’s what that actually represents in Oakland County in 2026:
At $500,000:
- Usually 3-4 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, around [X] square feet
- Good school districts, safe neighborhoods
- Updated kitchens and bathrooms
- Not extravagant – just well-maintained, quality construction
At $750,000:
- 4-5 bedrooms, quality finishes
- Possibly a pool or premium lot
- Established neighborhoods like Farmington Hills, parts of Bloomfield Hills, top Royal Oak locations
- Space for growing families, home offices, multi-generational living
At $1,000,000:
- Typically Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, premium Royal Oak
- High-end finishes, larger lots, possibly waterfront
- Still a family home, just in a premium location with excellent schools
Context matters.
A $700,000 home in Oakland County isn’t the same as a $700,000 home in rural Mississippi. It reflects Metro Detroit’s economy, our property taxes, our cost of living.
For a dual-income professional couple with established careers – a physician and an engineer, a business owner and a teacher, two corporate managers – a $600,000 to $800,000 home isn’t extravagance. It’s a strategic purchase in good school districts where they can raise their family.
So the question becomes: Can you steward a home in this price range in a God-honoring way?
Let me show you what Scripture says.
Four Biblical Questions Before Buying or Selling Luxury Real Estate
If you’re considering purchasing or selling a home in Oakland County’s $500k-$1M range, work through these four biblical frameworks:
QUESTION 1: Have You Sought First the Kingdom of God?
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The order matters.
God first. Kingdom purposes first. Righteousness first. Then everything else follows.
Practical application:
Before you buy that $725,000 home in Farmington Hills, ask yourself:
- Am I tithing faithfully? Not giving leftovers, but honoring God with the firstfruits of my income?
- Am I generous beyond tithing? Do I respond when the Holy Spirit prompts me to give?
- Will this purchase prevent Kingdom generosity? Or will it position me to be MORE generous because I’m being wise with my resources?
Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey building this business: When I honor God with the firstfruits – even when it doesn’t make financial sense on paper – He provides in ways I can’t explain.
When my father was dying and I was barely making ends meet, I kept tithing. It felt crazy. But Malachi 3:10 promises: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
And He did.
So if you’re considering a luxury home purchase but you’re not currently honoring God with your finances – that’s the place to start. Not the house.
Red flag: If buying this home would require you to stop tithing or reduce your giving, that’s not God’s blessing. That’s overextending.
Green light: If you’re faithfully stewarding your income for Kingdom purposes AND you can afford this home, that could be God’s provision for your family.
QUESTION 2: Are You Doing This for God’s Glory or Your Own?
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Whatever you do. Including buying or selling real estate.
This is a heart question. And it requires brutal honesty before God.
Ask yourself:
- Why do I want this house?
- To impress people? Or to provide well for my family?
- To signal status? Or to steward resources wisely?
- To keep up with neighbors? Or because it genuinely serves my family’s needs?
- How will this home be used?
- Will it be a place of hospitality where people encounter God’s love?
- Will children be raised here who are taught to love Jesus?
- Will this home be open to others, or closed off for our comfort?
- Can this house be used for ministry – Bible studies, foster care, caring for aging parents, mentoring?
I’ve seen Christian families buy beautiful homes in Oakland County that become incredible Kingdom tools. Their homes are gathering places. They host community groups. They provide safe spaces for teens. They care for aging parents with dignity. They create a legacy of faith for their children.
I’ve also seen Christians buy expensive homes that become monuments to their own success. Closed off. Selfish. More concerned with keeping up appearances than serving others.
Same price point. Completely different heart posture.
The house doesn’t determine the heart. The heart determines how the house is used.
Proverbs 21:2 warns: “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
Be honest before God about your motivations. If you’re buying primarily for status or ego, no amount of justification makes it Kingdom-minded.
If you’re buying to steward resources well and use your home for God’s purposes, that can absolutely glorify Him.
QUESTION 3: Are You Honoring God with the Firstfruits?
Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
Firstfruits. Not leftovers.
This principle applies to real estate decisions too.
If you’re selling a luxury home:
- What will you do with the equity?
- Is God getting His portion FIRST, or are you planning to use it all for yourself?
- Have you considered how this financial windfall could advance Kingdom purposes?
Let me share something personal. When I close a significant transaction, the first check I write is my tithe. Not after I pay bills. Not after I handle expenses. First.
Because Proverbs 3:9 doesn’t say “honor the Lord with what’s left over after you’ve taken care of everything else.”
If you’re buying a luxury home:
- Are you structuring your finances so you can still give generously?
- Have you built giving into your budget, or is it treated as optional?
- Does your mortgage payment leave room for Kingdom generosity, or are you stretching so tight that God gets nothing?
Here’s a litmus test: If someone looked at your bank statements and credit card bills, would they see that God is honored with your firstfruits? Or would they see that your home, your car, your lifestyle all got fed before God did?
Luke 16:10 says: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
If you’re not faithful with your current income, why would God entrust you with more? And if He has entrusted you with the financial capacity to buy a luxury home, are you proving faithful with that stewardship?
QUESTION 4: Are You Making This Decision Prayerfully?
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
In EVERY situation. Including real estate.
James 4:13-15 warns against making plans without acknowledging God:
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow… Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”
Have you actually prayed about this decision? Not just a quick “God, bless this” prayer, but genuine seeking of His will?
Practical questions:
- Have I spent consistent time in prayer about this purchase/sale?
- Have I asked God to close doors if this isn’t His will?
- Do I have peace about this decision, or persistent anxiety?
- Have I sought godly counsel from people who know me and have no financial stake?
- What is the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart?
I’ve watched clients make financially sound real estate decisions that weren’t God’s will for them. The numbers made sense. The house was beautiful. But there was no peace.
I’ve also watched clients make decisions that looked risky on paper, but God’s fingerprints were all over it. Doors opened. Provision appeared. Peace was undeniable.
Proverbs 16:9 says: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
You can plan. You can analyze the market. You can crunch numbers. But if you’re not inviting God into the decision, you’re leaning on your own understanding instead of trusting Him.
When Luxury Real Estate IS Biblical Stewardship
After working through those four questions, here are legitimate Kingdom-minded reasons to buy or own a home in Oakland County’s $500k-$1M market:
1. Quality Schools for Raising Godly Children
Proverbs 22:6 – “Start children off on the way they should know, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
If moving to Birmingham or Farmington Hills means your children get excellent education in a safe environment where you can raise them to love Jesus – that’s stewardship.
Your children are your most important discipleship project. Investing in their environment matters.
2. Space for Hospitality and Ministry
Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
If your $675,000 home has space to:
- Host community groups
- Provide foster care
- Care for aging parents
- Mentor young adults
- Open your home to those in need
That’s not extravagance. That’s Kingdom investment.
3. Building Generational Wealth for Kingdom Purposes
Proverbs 13:22 – “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.”
Real estate is one of the most reliable wealth-building tools. If you’re purchasing strategically in Oakland County’s strong market to:
- Build equity for your children’s future
- Create financial margin for increased giving
- Position your family to bless others generationally
That’s wise stewardship, not selfishness.
4. Strategic Location for Kingdom Work
Sometimes God calls us to live in specific places for Kingdom purposes.
- Proximity to aging parents who need care
- Access to a church community where you’re called to serve
- Neighborhood where you can be salt and light
- School district where your kids can influence peers for Christ
Geography matters. If God is calling you to Oakland County and this is where you can afford to live, that’s obedience.
5. Wise Use of God-Given Resources
Matthew 25:14-30 – The parable of the talents
The servant who buried his talent in the ground was condemned. Not because he spent it foolishly, but because he didn’t use it at all.
If God has blessed you with financial resources and you can strategically invest in real estate that:
- Appreciates over time
- Provides stability for your family
- Creates margin for generosity
- Serves as a long-term asset
You’re being a wise steward, not a wasteful one.
6. Peace from the Holy Spirit
Sometimes the answer is simply: You’ve prayed, you’ve sought counsel, you’ve checked your heart, and you have peace.
Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
If God gives you peace about this purchase or sale, and it aligns with biblical principles of stewardship – trust that peace.
When Luxury Real Estate Is NOT Biblical Stewardship
Equally important – here’s when purchasing or owning luxury real estate crosses the line from stewardship to sin:
1. When It’s Driven by Pride or Status
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
If you’re buying the Birmingham address primarily to impress people, that’s pride. If you’re selling because you’re embarrassed by your current neighborhood, that’s the same issue.
Red flags:
- More concerned with what people think than what God thinks
- Buying beyond your means to keep up with friends
- House-shopping driven by comparison and envy
- Unwilling to have people over because you’re ashamed of your current home
2. When It Prevents Kingdom Generosity
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth… to be generous and willing to share.”
If your mortgage payment is so large that you:
- Can’t tithe faithfully
- Can’t give when the Holy Spirit prompts
- Can’t support missionaries or ministries
- Have no margin for generosity
Your house has become an idol, not a stewardship tool.
3. When It’s Purchased Through Debt That Creates Anxiety
Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
Mortgages aren’t inherently sinful. But if you’re stretching so far that:
- You can’t sleep at night
- One job loss would mean foreclosure
- You’re in constant financial stress
- Your marriage is suffering from money arguments
That’s not God’s peace. That’s bondage.
4. When It’s Closed Off to Others
1 Peter 4:9 – “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
If you buy a beautiful home but:
- Never have people over
- Keep it pristine rather than lived-in
- Won’t let your kids have friends over because you’re worried about the furniture
- Use it only for your own comfort with no thought for others
You’ve missed the point of stewardship entirely.
5. When You’re Running from God’s Call
Sometimes we use real estate to avoid what God is asking us to do.
Jonah 1:3 – “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.”
If you’re buying or selling primarily to:
- Escape a ministry God has called you to
- Avoid uncomfortable obedience
- Create distance from people God wants you to serve
- Run from His direction
That’s disobedience, regardless of how nice the house is.
6. When It Replaces Trust in God
Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
If your $800,000 home becomes your security rather than God, you’ve made it an idol.
Warning signs:
- More concerned about protecting your investment than trusting God
- Anxious about property values, market shifts, interest rates
- Finding your identity in your address or home value
- Unwilling to sell even when God is clearly leading you to
The Stewardship Responsibility: What God Requires
Here’s the bottom line from Scripture:
Luke 12:48 – “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
If God has blessed you with the financial capacity to live in Oakland County’s luxury market, He’s not asking you to feel guilty about it.
He’s asking you to steward it faithfully.
That means:
1. Generous Giving
- Tithing faithfully
- Giving beyond the tithe
- Responding to Holy Spirit prompts
- Supporting Kingdom work
2. Kingdom Purpose
- Using your home for hospitality
- Raising children who love Jesus
- Being salt and light in your neighborhood
- Opening your life to others
3. Wise Management
- Not overextending financially
- Building equity strategically
- Maintaining margin for generosity
- Making decisions prayerfully
4. Eternal Perspective
- Holding loosely to earthly possessions
- Storing up treasures in heaven
- Using resources for lasting impact
- Remembering this is temporary
Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Your Oakland County home isn’t your treasure. It’s a tool. Use it well.
How I Serve Luxury Clients as a Faith-Driven Agent
Let me tell you how my faith shapes the way I serve clients in the $500k-$1M market:
I’ll Ask Hard Questions
I won’t just ask “How much can you afford?” I’ll ask:
- Have you prayed about this decision?
- Does this purchase leave room for generous giving?
- What’s your motivation – Kingdom stewardship or status?
- Do you have peace about this?
Some agents won’t push back. I will. Because your spiritual health matters more than my commission.
I’ll Never Pressure You Beyond Peace
Philippians 4:7 talks about “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.”
If you don’t have that peace, I won’t push you to buy. Even if the deal is perfect on paper. Even if it costs me a sale.
God’s timing matters more than market timing.
I’ll Pray for Wisdom
Before we meet, I pray for wisdom to serve you well. During our conversations, if you’re comfortable with it, I’ll pray with you about major decisions.
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
I need God’s wisdom to guide you well. And you need it to make the right decision.
I’ll Honor Biblical Stewardship Principles
I’ll help you think about:
- Long-term financial health, not just monthly payments
- Kingdom purposes, not just square footage
- Generational legacy, not just current comfort
- Strategic investment, not emotional decisions
I’ll Serve You With Excellence
Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Whether your home is $525,000 in Macomb County or $950,000 in Birmingham, you’ll get:
- Hospitality-trained service
- Technology-forward marketing
- Strategic market analysis
- Honest counsel, even when it’s uncomfortable
- Someone who sees this as ministry, not just a transaction
A Personal Reflection on Wealth and Calling
Let me share something from my own journey.
Six years ago, I found out I was pregnant the same season I lost my income. I was furloughed — no warning, no cushion — from a hotel event sales career I’d poured myself into, right at the start of a pandemic that had shut the world down. I had a seven-year-old solely depending on me, a baby on the way, and a new real estate license I was trying to turn into a lifeline. No safety net. Just a choice.
I had very little at that time. And in that season, God taught me how to trust Him completely.
Now I’ve closed 106+ transactions worth over $15 million. I’ve built a six-figure business. I’m strategically positioning to serve Oakland County’s luxury market.
And honestly? Sometimes I wrestle with it.
How did I go from unemployment to this? Am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me? Am I using this platform for Kingdom purposes or just building my own empire?
Here’s what I keep coming back to:
1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
God has given me a trust. Not just financial resources, but a platform. An audience. Influence. Opportunity.
The question isn’t “Should I feel guilty about success?”
The question is “Am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me?”
And that’s the same question I’m asking you to wrestle with.
If God has blessed you financially and you’re considering a luxury home purchase in Oakland County – don’t let guilt drive your decision. And don’t let pride drive it either.
Let stewardship drive it.
Ask the hard questions. Seek God’s wisdom. Check your heart. Make sure your firstfruits honor Him. Ensure your home will be used for Kingdom purposes.
And then move forward in faith, trusting that God can be glorified through a $650,000 home in Farmington Hills just as much as through a modest apartment – when the heart is right.
Final Thoughts
Here’s what I’ve learned about biblical stewardship and luxury real estate:
It’s not about the number. It’s about the heart.
You can dishonor God with a $200,000 home if you’re prideful, stingy, and closed off to others.
You can honor God with a $900,000 home if you’re generous, humble, and using it for Kingdom purposes.
The house doesn’t determine your spiritual health. Your heart does.
But here’s the warning: The more God entrusts to you, the more He requires from you.
Luke 12:48 doesn’t give wiggle room: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
If you’re blessed with financial capacity to live in Oakland County’s luxury market, God isn’t asking you to apologize for it.
He’s asking you to steward it faithfully.
Be generous. Be humble. Be Kingdom-minded. Use your resources – including your home – for purposes that outlast you.
And remember Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Make sure your treasure is stored in heaven, not just in Oakland County real estate.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the resources You’ve entrusted to each person reading this. You know their hearts. You know their financial situations. You know what they’re wrestling with regarding wealth, luxury, and stewardship.
For those who are feeling guilty about having financial blessings – help them receive Your provision with gratitude and steward it faithfully. For those who are pursuing luxury for the wrong reasons – convict their hearts and redirect them toward Kingdom purposes.
Give wisdom to anyone considering a significant real estate decision. Help them check their hearts honestly. Show them if their motivations are pure or if pride is creeping in. Give them peace about what honors You and discomfort about what doesn’t.
Help them remember that everything they have belongs to You – their homes, their money, their possessions. They’re just stewards, not owners. And You will ask them to give an account of how they stewarded what You entrusted to them.
Use their homes – whatever the price point – for Kingdom purposes. Make them places of hospitality, discipleship, and generosity. Raise up children in those homes who love You. Create communities around those dinner tables that point people to Jesus.
And for me, Lord – help me serve clients with integrity, wisdom, and genuine concern for their spiritual health, not just their real estate transactions. Keep my heart humble. Keep my motivations pure. Help me steward this platform You’ve given me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let’s Have the Conversation
If you’re navigating the intersection of faith and luxury real estate in Oakland County, I’d be honored to walk through these questions with you.
Not just “Can you afford it?” but “Should you buy it?”
Not just “What’s the market value?” but “How does this serve Kingdom purposes?”
Not just “What’s the best deal?” but “What’s God’s will?”
I bring both biblical perspective and strategic market expertise to clients who want to steward their wealth faithfully.
If you’re considering buying or selling in Oakland County’s $500k-$1M market and you want an agent who will:
- Ask the hard questions about stewardship
- Pray with you about major decisions
- Honor biblical principles of generosity and wisdom
- Bring excellence to marketing and negotiation
- Care about your spiritual health, not just the commission
Let’s talk.
Schedule a faith-grounded consultation: CLICK HERE
Download “4 Biblical Questions Before Buying Luxury Real Estate”
Gentraia Brown
Associate Broker | REMAX City Centre
(248) 469-2533 (call or text)
Serving Oakland, Wayne & Macomb County, Michigan
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” – Luke 12:48
