When we care a whole lot about things that we can touch, it often impacts the things we can't touch.
"Stuff" is not bad. Loving "stuff" on the other hand is bad.
Jeff Christopherson put it this way, "Jesus is against whatever we will not leave behind to follow Him." How many things do we see around us every day that are screaming, "Buy me! This would make you happy! This would make your life better!" Hearing those messages over and over makes it hard not to begin to believe them! But if our possessions are satisfying us and making us feel "comfortable enough", they can become dangerous to us.
When our strong desire for feeling secure or happy drives us to acquire more and more "stuff," we are at risk of falling into a trap..."I need this to be happy, so I need more stuff!" and that is a cycle that NEVER ends!
God called us to deny our "self" (Luke 9:23), in other words, to be willing to let go of that strong desire to focus our time, energy, and money on accumulating possessions.
I am trying to practice letting go of some of the things that have made me "comfortable." By letting go of these things that have a tight grip on my own conveniences, I can better empathize with those around the world who don't have the option of comfort.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1st John 2:15-17 ESV
"Stuff" is not bad. Loving "stuff" on the other hand is bad.
Jeff Christopherson put it this way, "Jesus is against whatever we will not leave behind to follow Him." How many things do we see around us every day that are screaming, "Buy me! This would make you happy! This would make your life better!" Hearing those messages over and over makes it hard not to begin to believe them! But if our possessions are satisfying us and making us feel "comfortable enough", they can become dangerous to us.
When our strong desire for feeling secure or happy drives us to acquire more and more "stuff," we are at risk of falling into a trap..."I need this to be happy, so I need more stuff!" and that is a cycle that NEVER ends!
God called us to deny our "self" (Luke 9:23), in other words, to be willing to let go of that strong desire to focus our time, energy, and money on accumulating possessions.
I am trying to practice letting go of some of the things that have made me "comfortable." By letting go of these things that have a tight grip on my own conveniences, I can better empathize with those around the world who don't have the option of comfort.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1st John 2:15-17 ESV
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