Contentment and Posessions

Moving has a wonderful way of showing you just how much stuff you have that isn't really necessary. As we prepare for the big truck to come next Thursday, we've been sifting thought our belongings and finding that there is an inordinate amount of stuff that can be crammed into a 700 sq ft apartment. Throwing things away has become a great source of joy for me. Items that are thrown away are ones that will never have to be moved again, at least by me.

As I think about possessions I realize how much stuff we have that isn't necessary. We think we need so much but in reality, we too often use possessions as a crutch to try to make us happy because we aren't finding satisfaction in Christ. What we find is the words of Solomon to be timelessly true, " Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied." (Proverbs 27.20) When you're 16 and beginning to drive, all that matters in life is obtaining a car and subsequent freedom. After driving for a little while, obviously you have to get a nicer, newer, cooler car. This is a process that happens for the next 50 years of life. The same is true with all possessions. I just need an apartment, no a 3 bedroom, no a house, no a bigger house, well, a house closer to the office, a house with a different look and more storage and the list goes on and on.

I'll take a few posts over the next week or two and write some about how I have tried to battle this in my own heart.