Let me say from the outset - I'm not advocating giving away everything and living an ascetic lifestyle.
But I *am* saying that sometimes we easily fool ourselves. We want to think we are not influenced by our stuff. We want to think that people are more important than possessions. I just find that we are, for the most part, innocently hypocritical. Here's what I mean:
I have an I-Pod Touch that I really enjoy. It's cool - it's tech-chic. I've spent probably $40 on stuff just to protect it from getting scratched or otherwise kept in as great a condition as possible. Would I allow my son to borrow it? Take it on a class trip? No.
I have a really nice TV at home - we finally got one of those LCD TV's. It's awesome. What do I tell kids? "Don't swing stuff around it. And that couch - don't sit on it with drinks of food. And don't eat at my dad's old desk." (I sometimes use the excuse of, "oh, it's good stewardship to keep it looking good ..." no it's not - I like my stuff and don't want it broken. Would I rather have a broken spirit in my kid but great stuff?)
I'm worried about that stuff. Afraid it'll get broken or soiled. Now - if *I* were to break it or soil it, that would be different, right? I'm a hypocrite.
Worse - it's NOT my stuff. It all belongs to God. Further - compared to the Universal scope of things, my nifty stuff just doesn't matter. And I'm so worried!?
Let me digress and think of something else - and then wrap up my point.
Fact One: I enjoy getting and receiving comfort, security, laughter, applause and mirth.
Fact Two: These are blessings from God! Even my stuff has emotional ties that from God. A desk is a desk - but God knows that it was a gift from my dad - and that tie is important to Him. (of course, there's important and MORE important ...)
Fact Three: The Greatest joy in God is giving those gifts away! To die to self is the greatest of privileges! It is a Universal principle and law.
Fact Four: To run from the cost of love is folly.
Fact Five: As long as I am in my unredeemed flesh - I will try to run from that cost.
My Followship of Jesus mostly is a titanic tug of war in this area. I want what I want - but I also want what God wants. But in the end, I know what will bring reward and also the greatest sense of peace and enjoyment. Letting God be God and fall into place. And it is a marvelous witness to our world:
Piper said this: "The world is not impressed when a Christian is thankful. They are impressed when we give away our riches for Christ sake and count it gain ... the cost of love is not optional."
What comforts and pleasures am I willing to give up - not for asceticism's sake, but for Christ's sake.
Would I be so bold?
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