The "Stuff" of life...

I was in a checkout line at walmart buying some four dollar plastic tubs to put with our storage unit. My checker was a small white haired woman who loved to talk with her customers. We chatted about why I was buying the tubs and the move on the horizon and she said asked something I didn't quite have the answer for. "Why do we pay all this money to put things into storage we'll never even use? We can't take it with us can we?"

No, she was right, we couldn't. I didn't have an answer for her but I mulled it over and over again as I continued my move this weekend. I asked it again as I glanced into my almost full storage unit, and again when I finally cleaned out my closet. Why are we so concerned with "stuff"? And if we were asked to give it all up would we? Would our idol be exposed? Just like the rich young ruler who was asked by Jesus himself to sell all and follow Him, I wonder, does Christ ask us to do the same?

This weekend I cleaned out enough clothes in my closet to clothe another family. I have 40 pairs of shoes, most of which I've never touched. I had a dozen tshirts that had no use, eight pairs of pants I couldn't even fit into, dozens of tops that were too small. The Book of Acts tells us that the early Christians lived in community and those who had enough, gave away to those that had nothing. What if we all did this? What if we all just had enough, and gave our excess away?

This isn't theological, it's just an idea. Call it fall cleaning. I really truly believe if we just analyze what we have versus what we use, we'll be pleasantly suprised what we can do without. And with that, I'm back to cleaning and moving.

Acts 2:44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.