Stuff Love
"There was not a needy person among them" ~ Acts 4:34. During the first years of Christianity, followers of Christ would share all that they had with one another. If one had and another did not, the one who had would sell and use it to share with the one who did not have. Not only did they share all they had with one another, but they met together daily to encourage one another.
Can you imagine what that would look like? What if people truly desired to care for the lonely, the hurting, the poor, the hungry, the naked. Not a government program destined to be corrupted and end in failure, but the body of Christ actually being His hands and feet. Daily living out His teachings to love others as we love ourselves. We are a nation of hoarders. We love our "stuff". We love it so much that once our houses are filled to the top we either buy a larger house to fill with more stuff or we rent a storage unit to keep all of the stuff we will never use. Our things are suffocating us slowly, taking over our lives and consuming our time, energy and bank accounts. And it is easy to do in a land of plenty. There are so many options, so many wonderful things that we never even knew we needed until we laid eyes upon it.
The stuff takes time to purchase, to clean, to pay for and all this time consumes us so that we have no time left for other human beings. We do not gather together daily to encourage one another because we are too busy accumulating and working to pay for our stuff.
What if life didn't have to be like that? What if you could live free from the rule of your possessions? What if you didn't commit every dime you have to consuming more for yourself? What if you committed to live more simply? What would that look like in your life? And what would you have to give to others?
"People who know their God will display strength and take action." ~ daniel 11:32.
Can you imagine what that would look like? What if people truly desired to care for the lonely, the hurting, the poor, the hungry, the naked. Not a government program destined to be corrupted and end in failure, but the body of Christ actually being His hands and feet. Daily living out His teachings to love others as we love ourselves. We are a nation of hoarders. We love our "stuff". We love it so much that once our houses are filled to the top we either buy a larger house to fill with more stuff or we rent a storage unit to keep all of the stuff we will never use. Our things are suffocating us slowly, taking over our lives and consuming our time, energy and bank accounts. And it is easy to do in a land of plenty. There are so many options, so many wonderful things that we never even knew we needed until we laid eyes upon it.
The stuff takes time to purchase, to clean, to pay for and all this time consumes us so that we have no time left for other human beings. We do not gather together daily to encourage one another because we are too busy accumulating and working to pay for our stuff.
What if life didn't have to be like that? What if you could live free from the rule of your possessions? What if you didn't commit every dime you have to consuming more for yourself? What if you committed to live more simply? What would that look like in your life? And what would you have to give to others?
"People who know their God will display strength and take action." ~ daniel 11:32.
what if... that's the dynamite question. the million dollar question. the game-changing question. thanks for re-asking it and making us stop and think about what jesus wants.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful challenge.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have been moving towards a plan of personal austerity for a few years now.
It really changes a person.
Love all these questions....I pray they roll around in my head and heart all day...
ReplyDelete