Does Our 'Stuff' Qualify As Abundant Living?

I look around my home and see so much ‘stuff.’  We’ve lived in the same place for almost 50 years, and because we haven’t moved, we’ve never had reason to get rid of anything.  Accumulation happens!  And before you turn around, you find yourself trying to figure out where it all came from, and what in the world are we going to do with all?

HARD CHOICES

Of course, for me, as a new widow, the problem is compounded by deciding what must go and what should stay from only ‘my’ perspective.  It sounds like it should be easy.  But somehow even as I go through those items that were Charles’ there are times it was/is a hard choice.

Many items meant so much to him.  They were his collections and things he enjoyed having.  And what should go to the kids/grandkids, and other issues that run through my head and heart!?  Even to the point of asking, ‘Am I betraying him if I get rid of this?’  I realize that may sound bizarre, but for me it matters!

LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

The Bible speaks about God giving us the ‘abundant life.’  (See John 10:10) And for many that means being able to have all the material goods possible, that can affect our happiness in the smallest way.  

But God isn’t talking about ‘material goods’ for abundant living!  Abundance Biblically, is talking about what begins ‘within us’ —not what we have around us!  For some that’s a hard concept!  True abundance comes from a heart that knows Him.

WHAT MATTERS?

Material goods are nice, but they are man made.  There is nothing man made that we can take with us when we pass from this Earth.  Every item on that list stays here and ultimately doesn’t matter.  

What’s more those ‘things’ we cherish here on Earth, are cold and empty when we find ourselves alone and sad.  They offer no comfort, give no counsel, and extend no hope.  They are just cold, man made things on a shelf, and totally dependent on you to even make them work!

EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS

Our lives are not easy, it doesn’t matter who you are!  Even the person who has millions of dollars has problems.  It’s the way of this world.  We all have emotions, relationships that work —or not, feelings we can’t ignore, health issues,  work place problems and more, which create havoc in any person’s life.  And ultimately, we all face death.  None of the ‘stuff’ we accumulated can help us at that point.

Sometimes when life is going at full speed and everything seems just right, we equate abundance to our circumstances…. ‘This is a life well-lived!  I’ve got it all!”, etc.    But then there’s an accident, the loss of a loved one, a disaster that wipes out everything we own, health issues which crush us….and a hundred other things.  Our immediate successes are turned into chaos.  How do we deal?

Suddenly we are feeling oppressed, abused and upended, fighting depression and a thousand questions about what’s going to happen next.  Everything we’ve put our faith and trust in, has collapsed!  It happens to everyone at one time or another, at some level.

CHRIST'S PRESENCE

Christ’s presence is where we find abundant living; not a full calendar or even a lot of stuff or people.  A relationship with Christ, which completely turns our world around, is where abundance begins.

When we align with Him, our hearts, minds and souls find peace —and a joy that can’t be defined.  He gives us purpose and a reason every day, to be thankful for waking up in the morning and praising Him!

Photo Credit: Too Much Stuff