Filling your life with stuff

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

How much "stuff" do you have? More to the point, why do you have it? Experience suggests that if you have a lot of stuff, it is for one of two reasons:

Some people accumulate stuff out of fear—fear of the future. They won’t throw anything away because someday you might need it; their closets are filled with old clothes that might one day come back into fashion, their basements are cluttered with worn-out TVs and empty, mildewed boxes. They buy an extra freezer and stock up on food that they might need, but goes uneaten for months or even years. They buy a book or movie rather than borrowing from the library or renting at the video store, because they fear that the title might be unavailable when they want it or that they won’t be finished with it by the return date.

Other people accumulate stuff because they are overcome by desire. Some people need the newest electronic gadgets. Some people need to be dressed in the newest fashions. Some need every baseball card in a series; others cannot resist buying just one more ceramic frog or porcelain doll or vintage car. And their collection ultimately enslaves them; where and how they live must take into account the needs of the collection, a collection which eats up living space and diverts money from being donated to charity.

God warns us not to get attached to earthly things. God expects us to have faith that He will take care for us; if we really trust in His love, there is no reason to be afraid, no reason to become a packrat "saving for a rainy day". Jesus tells us not to worry, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:31-33). God also expects us to lavish our love and attention on Him, not on the things He has given to us. We need to remember that the toys of this world will not follow us through the transition of the grave—only a relationship with the Giver of all good things is eternal. And so we are told that a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God (Luke 12:14-21).