Stuff Sucks...the life out of us!

(a Full-of-Faith Friday blog post)

Charles Spurgeon -- "prince of preachers"(cool shades may or may not be original to the picture :D)
Spurgeon Quote -- "it is not how much we have but
 how much we enjoy that makes happiness"

Today I find myself thinking about all the stuff I own, and particularly, how much it is worth. If I sold my truck, how much would that make? If I sold some books, how much could that make? These aren't the normal daydreams of a Friday morning for me. On the contrary, these are brand new in light of the need I presently have for finding a new job. Opportunities are unfolding, yet, the possibility of running out of money before the pay from a new job kicks in is a real dilemma for me, as it is for many Americans today. Thus, today I find myself considering what I'm willing to let go of to meet the needs of my family, which is essentially "paying the bills."

So I found my way into the Gospel of Luke and found at least two pocket-book punching parables that seemed relevant today: the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) and the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31). Apparently, Jesus had a lot to say about our stuff (money and possessions) and each of these parables sculpts a two-sided image of the influence of "stuff" on our lives (and destinies). According to Jesus, our stuff has a great deal of positive potential and also a shockingly amount of hazards as well. I want to focus on three ideas I see in these parables because because I'm a preacher and that is just what preachers do and because I don't want to bore you with the fourteen things I actually see here, so be alert and consider: stuff is temporary, stuff corrupts our vision, and stuff sucks morality right out of us.

As Jesus tells it here, money and possessions are not evil; instead He does teach here that stuff is temporary. He teaches that it can disappear much faster than it comes to us. The farmer (Luke 12:13-21), spent his whole life storing up (saving) so that he would have plenty for retirement ("ample goods laid up for many years" v. 19), ends up losing everything in a single night because he dies much sooner than he expects (v. 20). Similarly, the good things the rich man (16:19-31) enjoyed during his life disappear upon his death as he suffers torment in Hades (Hell; apparently not a happy destination; "you can tell the terribleness of Hell by the price He had to pay to keep us from going there," Ray Comfort, Hell's Best Kept Secrets). So, according to Jesus my possessions can provide a "good life," but they are temporary and wholly untrustworthy, thus I shouldn't hold to tightly to any of them. Check.

Jesus also teaches in these parables that stuff corrupts our vision, much like wearing sunglasses at night or developing a severe eye infection (shout out KC; glad your eye is healing brother)! However, in this case, the vision that is corrupted is not optic but moral. Through the lens of his life of luxury the rich man (16:19-31) sees Lazarus as an ugly stain on an otherwise beautiful front gate near his home. Likewise, the farmer (12:13-21) thinks of no one but himself when he is devising a plan for retirement and wondering what he should do with all that supply (money). Sharing their wealth with those who have need isn't even within the scope of their thinking; instead, they both do everything they can to only provide security for themselves. Jesus declares this is selfish, wasteful, and definitively short-sighted. The wealth and desire for financial security (aka the American dream) has blinded these men. Now their vision is corrupted and they fail to see the needs in the world around them.

Since stuff corrupts our vision, leading to immoral decisions with our stuff (money), it isn't a big leap to now see that clinging to our stuff sucks morality right out of us. In fact, Jesus introduces the story of the farmer (12:13-21) with a stern warning of the hazards of holding tightly to things (greed): "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed" (12:15). When considering the context of the story Jesus tells here the implications of this warning are clear. If we spend our lives worrying about possessions, saving up huge nest eggs (bigger barns), or simply devoting tons of energy to constantly protecting our "bottom line," then we are literally in danger of losing our souls (moral decay) to our stuff. The ultimate image of this moral decay of our souls comes most clearly in Jesus' warning to His disciples in Luke 16:13 where He says, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and [stuff]" (my emphasis and translation). Thus, in the end the greatest danger for me in holding tightly to my stuff is the possibility of the corruption of my ability to serve and worship God. This, as Jesus emphasizes, is the direct result of serving and servicing my stuff.

In the end, I fully realize that my stuff is also a blessing and is good ("every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father..." (James 1:17).  It's not all Cheetos and Twizzlers though, for my stuff can also be hazardous material if I don't heed the warning to "watch out!" So, if you are reading this and you know me, don't come over and try to make me an offer to buy my truck...it is not for sale. It is a good gift. It is a blessing. Yet, I won't hold too tightly too it. If you need to borrow it, it is yours. If you want to buy a book, now that is another story for when I moved out of my office it took about 20 boxes, just for my books (maybe I need to downsize the library). So join me in "watching out" today and evaluating whether or not your stuff is sucking you away from God or toward Him. It's an important thing to consider. I fear many Americans...many of us...have fallen into the same trap as the farmer and the rich man. I pray not!

Let us be sure, and deal with it!

Givers…Can I Get an Amen?

Two men were marooned on a tiny island. One man paced back and forth worried and dreadfully frightened, while the other man sat back, whistling and sunning himself. The first man said, "Aren’t you afraid we’re going to die here?" "Nope," said the second man. “How can you be so sure?” the first man asked. “Well, you see…” said the second man, “I make $100,000 a month and I tithe faithfully to my church… My Pastor will find me."

Did you laugh at that? That is a funny story, but it speaks of a perception that isn’t true in most cases. The perception is that pastors are motivated to preach on giving because of their selfish concern for the church budget and building program. Do pastors shy away from preaching on giving so as not to appear focused on the bottom line? (not this one) No, our mission is not to “pay our bills,” instead our mission is the glory of God through gospel sharing and serving others!

Can’t we just assume if people are growing spiritually they will eventually learn to give? Consider this: there is no other area of spiritual growth where we make assumptions that believers will grow without reminders, exhortations, and accountability. Do we learn to pray, witness, or serve without being taught these things? No. Nor should we learn to give without being taught to give.  

The reality is the bible speaks extensively about giving, tithing, sacrifice, sharing, and stewardship. Therefore, we should have the conversation and challenge one another to such obedience with regularity. We should embrace the conversation about giving with great joy and give, give, give!

Money is a Curious Thing

“Having plenty of money will make me happy!” I’m sorry to burst the bubble but this is simply erroneous thinking.

To be clear, money does have its benefits. Money offers us choice and a level of freedom to make those choices. Also, having no money or being homeless is a terrible existence for any person; however, I’m not focusing on this extreme. Instead, consider the biblical principle of learning to be content with whatever you do have (Philippians 4:11). The truth is being rich does not solve our problems and it certainly does not miraculously make us happy…although most people admit they believe it will make them happy, or at least they’d love to test the theory. The truth is, if you aren’t content today, then no amount of money will help you learn contentment.

The philosophy of the world has led us to believe that money, and a lot of it, is necessary for a good life. We like to daydream about what life would be like if money were not an issue. The reality, however, is different. The testimonies from the rich about their personal unhappiness are viral…why? Because money doesn’t fix what is broken in us. The truth is, once you start earning a lot of money you are presented with a new set of problems and many more temptations…one of which is worrying about losing all your money.

Even people who do not subscribe to the biblical worldview testify to the utter failure of money to produce happiness for them. Consider Sharon Osbourne, popular TV personality and wife to Ozzy Osbourne (lead singer of the famous rock band, Black Sabbath).

Sharon writes, in her autobiography Unbreakable:

“From the day I married Ozzy, I’d always had this thing in my mind that, if I made the perfect home, if there were flowers, if there was fruit, if I got the bloody right curtains, if it smelt lovely and looked gorgeous, then it would make everything right in our world.”

She goes on to say,”I realized it wasn't Ozzy that was blind, it was me. I have always placed so much emphasis on the ambiance of a place; I would want every house to make us happy. And if it didn’t then it would be, Oh God, it’s the wrong layout, the wrong location, it’s too small, it’s too big…I must sell it and then everything will be perfect and we’ll be happy and so will the kids. But recently, after all those years of trying, of fretting about that painting ruining the room or those cushions not being plumped properly. I’ve realized that it means [expletive]. You can’t manufacture happiness. The happiest times were when we were broke and we had nothing.”

She is right. Having money and loving money and fine things doesn't buy happiness in the slightest.

The Pharisees were lovers of money and Jesus had a lot to say about money to them. He said it was overrated and challenging to the hearts of men (Matt 25:14-30; Lk 16:19-31). We can do a lot of good with money. We can help a lot of people with money. We can help spread the gospel far and wide with money. So, we should give “hilariously” to protect our hearts from greed and the love of money. And, we should know money doesn’t buy happy!