“Too Much Stuff”
By Mary Jeppson
Okay, I admit it! I come from a long line of pack rats. However, my disclaimer has always been, “I’m not as bad as some of my siblings” (I have 12)…which is true…really! We can say our parents taught us well. “Never throw away anything you may need later.” Out on the farm it always proved to be a true statement…most of the time!
I began to wonder about stuff when we were dealing with our parents’ estate. They accumulated many treasures and stuff over a lifetime …and I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how we define ourselves and our lives? Is this what it’s really about? Regardless, of what was there at the end of their lives, I remembered all they had given to those less fortunate in past years. They shared what they had with family, friends and strangers. It was an
excellent lesson for their children.
Today’s message to society is “He who has the most toys…WINS!” What are we really winning? We go out and buy something new and in a short amount of time it’s not what we thought would make us happy. So we buy something else and end up with Too Much Stuff!
Each time I hear the words of the Gospel according to Mark 10: 17-31 The Rich Man, I begin to wonder if I am living my life according to God’s plan or like this young rich man who ran to Jesus, knelt before him and asked what he could do to inherit eternal life. In verse 21 “Jesus, looking upon him loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.”
What? Give up all my stuff? You’re kidding, right? Nope, I don’t believe he is. We were created to love and serve the Lord but somehow our focus has changed from serving God to accumulating stuff.
If we are too busy filling our lives with stuff and not serving God who created us then how can we expect to be given eternal life? Like the rich man, the choice is ours to make.