"I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods."Luke 12:18b (NIV)
She gingerly opens the closet.Hats, gloves and board games crash to the floor."Honey, we've run out of room," she cries."We need a bigger house."
"Renting storage space is cheaper," he suggests."Look, the phonebook has 19 pages of them to chose from."
"Great idea.But let's hit the mall first.There's a big sale today!"
We're plagued with possession overload.New products bombard us daily.We buy things we can't live without, only to find them buried somewhere still in their original wrappers.Our cabinets are full and we can't even park in the garage anymore.
So what's the problem – too little space or too much stuff?The desire to acquire is a common trait.That's why economic theory is based on the idea of the insatiable consumer who always wants more.But is this possession mania distracting us from what's really important?
It's a question of time and money.Buying and keeping track of all this stuff consumes us.And that doesn't even count the headache of maintaining it.When we're obsessed with possessions, do we have any room for God?
Maybe we have too much stuff and too little God.It's time to turn the searchlight back toward him.Our Lord asks us to seek him first and he'll give us what we need.True contentment is found only in Christ.
Taming the mall monster may seem overwhelming, but you can do it.Try these ideas:
·Consider downsizing.Maybe those "must have" items could be given away.
·Evaluate your time and money.Is there a better eternal use for them?
·Spend some extra time with God.Get his opinion about your possession obsession.
So do you really need a bigger barn?Think of all the time and money you'll save by not having to keep track of that excess baggage.After you lighten your load, you can start living for God instead of stuff.What a novel idea!
Living for God (TM) offers resources on Christian living. Check them out at www.livingforgod.net or call (719) 578-8837.
