I was recently reading about Jonathan Brink’s thoughts on “The Lie of Stuff” over at his blog jonathanbrink.com (because I’m so new I haven’t figured out linking yet, LOL! ). In the comments section, someone mentioned an online video “The Story of Stuff” that I had been meaning to watch. Have you seen it yet? If not, find 20 minutes to invest in watching it at thestoryofstuff.com. It provoked some introspective thought for me. The topic has been quite relevant as my husband has recently made a job change that essentially cut our one income literally in half. A change like this would send most families scrambling and rightfully so. I have gone back to work to help supplement the lapse in income but it’s been the unexpected spiritual discipline that has been the most challenging and refreshing.
I LOVE stuff. There I said it. I did not realize how much of my value I put in my stuff until I couldn’t buy it anymore. When the money coming in covers the basic bills and maybe enough to have a little socked away for a true emergency, the buying of stuff that made me feel good came to a halt. The past 3 months have had me face to face with a very huge mountain of my own PRIDE. I have been so guilty of putting up a facade. Nice cars, nice clothes, nice stuff, nice girl, right? That is what I told myself. I’ve been reflecting a lot on Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In the culture of consuming that we live in, living a life of contentment and simplicity as Jesus did is hard. And yet, so freeing as God slowly but surely reveals that my value has never been in the stuff. I am a loved and treasured child of God. He is stripping away the superficial and getting me down to the meat and potatoes heart issues that need to be processed. The less there is of me and my stuff, the more room there is for Him. The issues with money and spending have only ever been symptoms of a more spiritual nature.
Where is your treasure?
