How Much More Stuff Do We Need?
“A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” Ecclesiastes 3:6
We Americans love our “stuff”. We spend the first 50 years of our lives accumulating things, and the remainder of our time on earth trying to get rid of things. For some reason, it takes us a long time to realize that we don’t need all that stuff. We pay good money to store our excess until one day we see the futility in keeping things we don’t need, and thus we have a garage or yard sale for other people to buy our stuff so that they can add it to their collection of stuff. It’s almost like a game to see who can accumulate the greatest number of things.
Advertisers do a good job of convincing us that their products will make our lives so much better. However, most products do not fulfill the promises that the makers advertise. That shiny new car that will make us the envy of the neighborhood will one day be in the junkyard. After the new wears off of any new toy, we must look elsewhere for that short-lived feeling of satisfaction. The only thing that can help us in this pursuit is to realize that things can never bring us the true happiness and contentment that we seek. That can only be found in a relationship with our Creator through His Son Jesus Christ. That is how God made us.
I will admit that I enjoy shopping at the local thrift store except it has been closed for several months due to COVID-19. It’s hard to resist those items of clothing that have been marked down to $1.00 even though I have plenty of clothes thanks to all those bargains. Years ago I wouldn’t have worn “used” clothes, but my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were always showing me all the nice clothes they found really cheap. Once I discovered that designer clothes, blue jeans, and household goods could be purchased for so little, I became a big fan of the local thrift store. There is a benefit, though, for others because what I and others spend at this thrift store operated by a church goes to provide vouchers for those who need clothes and can’t afford them.
I said all of this because it is not wrong to want things. God knows that we need food, clothing, and shelter (Matthew 6:32). He expects us to work and provide for our families. When these desires become the main focus of one’s life and distracts us from what is really important, our relationship with the Lord can be diminished. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-30 for us not to spend our lives trying to accumulate what He will generously provide if we depend on Him. Jesus spoke of how the birds don’t worry about anything. They always seem to find food and materials for nests. Their provisions don’t just fall in their laps, so to speak. They must be on the alert for what God provides and be willing hunt for food and gather sticks and leaves for nests. It always astonishes me how a bird way up in the sky in flight can spot a tiny bug or worm on the ground. God gave them sharp eyesight to find their food, hence we get the phrase “eagle eye”. Jesus pointed out how beautiful were the lilies, but in a few days, their beauty fades. If God clothes a flower that is only temporary, how much more will He clothe His people? Jesus also said that if we seek Him, then all that we need He will give us. Ain’t God’s grace good?