“Where are we going put it? I think we’re turning into hoarders.” So, we did a little downsizing … of sorts.
My wife and I both have asked the question and made the statements. Our love for antiques … especially furniture … kept us adding to our collection and trying to stuff them into a small townhouse. On one move, we decided to downsize—sort of. Not that we were going to sell anything. We would simply transfer some things from our townhouse to a storage shed.
There were a few items we decided we could live without seeing or using. We loaded them into the back of our SUV and transported them several miles away. Perhaps our kids will want them someday. Or, maybe we’ll once again live in a larger place before we die. And of course, all our stored pieces were assets we could sell if we needed money.
Jesus told about a rich man who was a hoarder, but he wasn’t into downsizing (Luke 12:18). He was into upsizing. His crops produced more than normal. His barns were full. There was nothing for him to do but build larger barns, store his goods, eat, drink, and be merry. Life was good … or so he thought … until God confronted him and told him his life would end that night.
Whether I downsize in actuality, I need to at least downsize in my thinking. Possessions are for this life. I will always love antiques and continue collecting them—and sell a few along the way. But I’m intelligent enough to know I can’t take them to heaven with me when I go.
God gives us things of this life to enjoy, but they are for earth, not heaven or the new earth. Possessions are tangible, corruptible, breakable, and can be stolen by thieves. Placing our security or faith in them will always lead to disappointment.
Possessions can bring us joy, but God expects us to use them to help others and advance His Kingdom. Seeing what we have as temporary helps us do this with the right attitude and avoid the rich man’s. He was selfish and thought only of himself. And if, by chance, our possessions draw our focus away from God, we need to downsize.
Don’t let your possessions possess you. Downsize.
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of the internationally recognized website, Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editors’ network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at [email protected].