Is The Stuff We Own Burdens Or Blessings?

We have stuff.

We seem to have lots of stuff.

Stuff fills spare bedrooms, storage totes, closets, attics, basements, garages, and sheds. And when there’s no more room in these spaces, there’s those handy self-storage garages popping up all around.

The stuff we own can either be burdens or blessings.

What is it for you? What is it for me?

We’ve been taught every good and perfect gift comes from God, right? These are blessings.

But when we let our stuff get out of hand, and let it control us, it can become burdens.

I found some alarming statistics about our habits and our stuff, and as I read through them, I was reminded of the small home we raised our babies in. Bill’s grandparents, two generations earlier, raised eight children in that tiny house, which had an unfinished basement, and four small bedrooms. The bedroom closets were the size of typical linen closets in modern homes today.

They did not have stuff.

We moved out of that house 14 years ago because we needed more space with our two little children.

Times have changed, haven’t they? Or maybe it’s us who has changed.

Last week we finished our Bible Study Fellowship Revelation study, and Lesson 23 was one of the lessons that impacted me the most this year. Centered on Revelation 18, its focus was Babylon, its destruction, and fall. Bible scholars have varying opinions of what/who Babylon represents in this passage (I have my own thoughts on this too), but nonetheless, the fall of Babylon is a warning for us all. (I encourage you to take a moment to read Revelation 18. You’ll see what I mean.)

I skimmed over my personal notes on that lesson today, and I’m again encouraged and convicted:

God calls His people out of the world to be set apart to Him.

God calls us to come out of her (Babylon).

Pursuing riches takes away from pursuing God.

Greed, self-indulgent is not what we are to be.

Don’t pursue what the world pursues.

Where do I look for value, significance, enjoyment? Treasures in earth or heaven?

Worldly treasure cannot capture the hearts of God’s people when Jesus is set apart as the treasure of our hearts.

What treasure of the world has captured my heart?

When Jesus is the treasure of our hearts, He’s what’s most important. Our stuff is not.

When our stuff isn’t our focus, it can be our blessings.

No, having stuff isn’t bad. But having Jesus is better. What are our minds set on??

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV

It’s a great day to re-examine what’s my treasure. I invite you to join me.

Much love,

Julie

 

 

Linking this post with Suzie Eller and friend for #livefreeThursday.