When Dee Williams decided to downsize she sold her 3-bedroom house and moved into an 84-square foot “tiny house.” This transition liberated her from a monthly mortgage payment. She now owns her home—which cost a fraction of the price—and pays just hardly anything each month in heating costs. Before moving in, Dee purged many of her possessions. Old photos, love letters and even her college jacket landed in the trash.
In her quest to continue living light, Dee now allows herself no more than 300 belongings at one time. Dee’s story has inspired me to think about how being attached to stuff can affect our spiritual lives.
Jesus met a rich man who wanted to know how he could inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). He said he had obeyed God’s commandments from childhood, but Jesus revealed a soft spot for this rule follower. “Jesus felt genuine love for him” (Mark 10:21). Despite the warmth of that moment, He delivered some hard truth: “There is still one thing you haven’t done. . . . Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).
I wish this story had a fairytale ending. It doesn’t. Jesus’ challenge crushed the man. His “face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Mark 10:22). He knew he would either have to choose Jesus, or stay snuggled up with his stuff.
As Christians, our call to “live lightly” is not necessarily about the quantity or quality of our possessions. It’s about what we treasure. Jesus warned, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21). Do you treasure the status, self-worth, or security that “stuff” may supply, or is Jesus your greatest prize?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 1:19-34
More:
Read Psalm 23:1 to see why the psalmist claimed, “I have all that I need.” Read Philippians 4:11-13 for insight on contentment.
Next:
What should you do if you feel a tug of war between your possessions and your devotion to Christ? How would you respond if you had to dispose of all but 300 belongings?
bluefigtoast on June 16, 2012 at 12:23 am
I think Corrie Tenboom said it best. She said something like this (if memory serves)
“Hold very loosely, the things you hold most dearly in life. Because it hurts when God has to pry our fingers off of them.”
jennifer benson schuldt on June 16, 2012 at 9:34 pm
What a great quote. We can’t take anything with us to heaven (Job 1:21), so living “lightly” on earth is good practice for the future!
Another related saying goes like this: “No man can swim ashore and take his baggage with him.”
Kathy @ In Quiet Places on June 16, 2012 at 8:06 am
The satisfaction God brings to my life far outweighs the material things of this world…
jennifer benson schuldt on June 16, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Amen! When we have Jesus, our other needs are few.