I love preachin’ about “stuff.” I realized a long time ago – then when we preach – we really preach to ourselves.
I have stuff.
I have tons of stuff. I have stuff in storage from 1998.
I have stuff, just like you have stuff. Most of us have a whole lot of stuff.
I last moved in the year 2,000. So I only have fifteen years worth of stuff…ok 17 years worth of stuff…with the storage unit …but where does all that stuff come from?
My stuff multiplies. Naturally, I think…by osmosis or something. We acquire stuff.
I know I don’t need any more stuff…the stuff that I have is more than sufficient. I do not need or require one more thing. I have more than enough stuff to last me all of my days.
And, if the truth be told, I know where my stuff is headed. I know where my stuff is going. The hand-writing is on the wall.
Antiques, collectibles…all those things that I “had to have”…somewhere a dumpster awaits. They too, all are on borrowed time.
I am in good company. I am not alone.
A big thing was made – a while back about the 1% of the world’s population versus the 99%.
But you know, if the truth be told – there is a common mistake made by American Christians.
We live in the one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
Our actual standard of living is higher than 95% of people in the globe.
When we think about rich people we think of people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Paul Allen. We think about people whose assets are listed in the billions.
We think of the rich as being the 538 billionaires (plus) listed in Forbes Magazine.
We tend to focus on the salaries of professional athletes or on movie stars.
This Gospel text is written for folks like them…and not for folks like us.
We are wrong.
We are dead wrong.
You have more stuff than 95% of the rest of the world. You have more wealth. You just so happen to be – one of the richest people in our world.
The text is about “us.” We cannot point the finger at “others” – and get away with it.
The guy in the gospel text went away sorrowful for he had “abundant possessions.”
But then don’t we all? Possessions in abundance… Stuff galore… More than we need… and then, some…
Jesus suggests four things for the man. “Get up,” sell what he has, give to the poor and come and follow Jesus.
It is actually worthy of noting – that the text does not say that he has to give all to the poor.
He just has to give – that’s all.
And apparently, this was too much for him.
So far in his life, he has been all about “getting” and “achieving” – acquiring for himself – “having”—and now he is being challenged by Jesus…to actually give!
First, he acquired possessions and now he wants to acquire eternal life.
He acquires. And, we must imagine that he probably gave to others as well…somewhere along the way.
Was he stingy in his giving? Did he give only a certain amount and no more.
Or maybe he was a “taker” and not a “giver” at all…just acquiring things for himself…but never really truly giving…
It is possible to have an obsession with acquisition, you know! Acquiring stuff…just for the sake of having stuff…
Just so you know, I am guilty as charged. I possess way too much stuff. Stuff that will one day end up in a garbage heap…somewhere…
All my stuff… All that I valued… Gone… Disposed of… Disappeared. Just like yours will all – disappear, too!
When is enough – enough. What more do we “need?” What more do we require…I mean really require?
Forget about the 1% – you are not going to get there…but what about that 5% that goes without – or “has to do” with so little? What about them?
When will come a change of heart? A change in our ways? A change in our lifestyles? When will we consider “the other?”
I am here to tell you today, we simply have too much stuff…
And I for one – am not alone on this one!