Stuff and Contentment

Yesterday I went to an estate sale. I rarely go to them or garage sales, thinking I do not need anything.

As I walked around the house, I was astounded with the volumne of stuff, all tagged. I did wonder how long it took to tag it all! I asked another shopper if this lady was a merchant because I saw two boxes full of old-fashioned dressy gloves. She said, "No - she was a person who collected anything and everything!" This was so obvious...

Every time I wander about a place like this, one idea always comes back to haunt me and will keep haunting me: she died but she did not take one thing with her! Not one thing. It all stayed behind.

Then I wonder: did it take all this stuff to make her happy? How well did this stuff succeed in making her happy? I suspect the pleasure was short lived because she was at it again after acquiring: The pursuit of the acquisition of stuff is an American past-time that is addictive.

How much do I need to keep me happy? How much do I need to live? to accomplish my job, my work? Most of the stuff there had limited practical uses...

How content am I? "Having food and raiment, therewith to be content..." Am I content with only that?

Hmmm, something to think about....

We are hollow void beings without God. We look inside and see nothing, and so we make up somebody. That somebody needs to be made visible to ourselves and others by symbols such as reputation or possessions.

And so we set about to aquire these symbols to prove this person lives. When we buy clothes, furniture, cars, or houses, we are trying to make this fictional person real to ourselves and the world. Advertisers are perhaps the most skilled in exploiting this deep need.

Consider the first thing a a person loses when they go to prison is their possessions. They are stripped of their personhood.

In our affluent country, we might think people have no use for all the expensive products and items they buy, but that's not quite correct. They serve a very essential purpose. They offer the promise of identity.

"...“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12: 15

Mike

Brother Compton,

Your post and signature brought this verse to my mind.

"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?"

-Ezekiel 14:3

May we hold the Lamb of God in our hearts and set our faces to do the will of the Father as we carry our cross to Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

MyVeryHeart,

The scripture you shared below brings of a truth I need reminded of periodically...namely that the things we let in our hearts rule us. When I was younger, I had to learn first hand what Paul told Timothy about wealth piercing the heart with grief. For me, as a young man, such grief was mercy to wake me up in time to make changes for my family.

Now I try to remember, that financial freedom isn't when I keep a pile of money in my bank account, but when I can keep not even a penny in my heart.

Such freedom is very difficult to keep these days when we are constantly told that sensible people must worry about pensions and retirement funds. Everyone, it seems, rants and raves about the economy.
To be honest, part of my repentant heart in this area is that I feel pity and compassion for people on this topic. Our souls are clamoring for security...even many Christians who know to look to God for security, believe that security in God must mean that God will secure us financially.

We just have so little real experience with the comforting presence of Christ abiding in us. Our unfamiliarity with his presence, even those of us who seemingly know the bible well, is the cause of such needless darkness and fear. As one who grew up "christian", this is a sad state I am personally familiar with. And so, while we should warn one of the illusory security of materialism, I all the more hope we are just as eager to affirm the reality and security of Christ in us!

Blessings,

Mike

Brother Mike,

Yes Brother,The presence of Christ truly is a precious treasure, more than gold or silver. There was a recent time when I had nowhere to live and very little money maybe a couple hundred dollars or so (to me it was alot Praise God!). I had just finished telling a family member about how wonderful Jesus was by telephone when the Spirit of God fell upon me in the hotel room I was staying in. This was absolutely priceless. I really am the richest man in the world, even though I am materially poor. Bless the Lord Jesus Christ! Joy unspeakable! Glory!

By his Grace,

Travis

when the Spirit of God fell upon me in the hotel room I was staying in. This was absolutely priceless. I really am the richest man in the world, though I am materially poor.

What a deeply encouraging account and truth! You remind me of another wonderful account of a saint who lay in his hospital bed during his last hour in this life. He had understandably struggled to fully let go of this world when he first was told he was going to pass away. But now, in his last days, something remarkable had come over him. As he lay gasping for his last few breaths, he asked his pastor "Do you think I will love Jesus in heaven anymore then I do now?" The pastor thought for a second and replied, "Yes, I suppose so." The dying man smiled with tears and said, "I don't see how that's possible."

Bless you

I have been thinking a lot about this myself. How much "stuff" do I have to have before I build a bigger barn??

Luke 12.18: And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

God bless and as my granny used to say, "Lord, help us all,"
Lisa

What message am I communicating to others with my stuff?

In the accumulating of stuff, how many times does a body stop to think how much work you are buying in order to maintain this stuff?

Whenever I go into a house that is so full of stuff, I get a weak feeling in my body: all I see is the work required to keep it dusted, clean...If it is dirty, its beauty is hidden. So then, to maintain stuff means one is spending a lot of time on objects that cannot do anything for you. Nothing.

Is this a wise expenditure of our time?

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD."