The Spiritual Shift: Day #21 Stuff

                              Day #21 Stuff

"But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
and we can take nothing out of it."
~1 Timothy 6:6-7

Let's go to an estate sale--in OUR homes.

We walk through each room seeing a price tag on each and every item.

We hear people haggle over the prices, negotiating for a better deal.

We have to hold ourselves back at times, because we want to grab an item out of someone's hands so that we can cling to it a little longer.

The sale continues, and every item--every "treasure" has found a new home. We are left standing in the empty shell of the home.

Since the possessions aren't in front of us, we come to a slow realization that the memories were the actual treasure of the items. We still have those.

We may have a sadness with the absence of the item, but we may also feel something else. A lightening--the weight of the item--isn't pressing on us. With the loss of the "stuff," we have a freedom that we didn't even know we were missing, and even possibly, yearning.

Has our life at some point shifted from us owning "stuff" to our "stuff" owning us? Does the weight of our "stuff" cost us more time, money, obligation, commitment than we ever realized?

Our routine:

Assessment: What is the current condition of our relationship with the "stuff" and "treasures" in our lives?

• What is the purpose of this relationship?

• What is the state of this relationship? What is going well? What isn’t?

• What changes need to be made to this relationship?

Adjustment: Let's do a realistic walk through of our living area. How tight is the grip we have on our possessions? What is the physical and spiritual cost of holding onto all of our "stuff"? If we happen to be brave, we may do this with a trash bag or box in order to gather up those "treasures" we are ready to release.

1 Timothy 6:8

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Content. Be content.

Parents know the difference between a child who is easily content and one who is not. [The modern expression that seems to fit the description of discontent is "high maintenance."] How "high maintenance" have we become about our belongings?

Philippians 4:11-13

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Jesus. A life knowing and serving Jesus. That is the way that Paul can "do all this." Jesus is Paul's "secret of being content in any and every situation."

Luke 12:15

"Then he [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

1 John 2:15-17

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

Is fitting into the world causing us to collect more and more? More importantly, is our desire to fit into the world causing us to turn away from God's will for our lives?

1 Timothy 6:9-10

"Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Philippians 3:7-8

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."

Luke 12:16-21

"And he [Jesus] told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.'"

With whatever we receive in life, we must submit to the will of God. When we surrender our will to God's excellent plan, we will find contentment. Notice that God's plan for us doesn't necessarily include riches and wealth. When it does--if it does--may we hold on to those blessings loosely and be willing to share those blessings to the glory of God.

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, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Matthew 19:23-24

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'"

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, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What did our home walk through reveal to us? Are we able to let go? Do we have too much "stuff"? Remember, there is no right amount. We are all responsible to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to such a degree that we cling to the Word of God and God's Will for our lives more than we cling to any trinket or material item we might temporarily possess.

1 John 3:17-18

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

If we are able, we are to help others. When we do, we understand the meaning of the words Paul attributed to Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Prayer: 

Almighty God, Oh, how You have blessed us! We thank You for all that You have provided to us. Help us to appreciate all You do for us, and encourage us to pass along blessings to others. Help us keep in perspective both the value and cost of our material possessions. Help us to learn contentment; right our relationship with our stuff. Help us to seek the eternal value of Your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~Matthew 6:21