Evaluating Our “Stuff”

How much “stuff” is enough? How many “things” do we really need?

In the rush of our daily lives, so much attention in society is placed on possessions. New “things” are being developed constantly. Breakthroughs provide new ways to be entertained and communicate. Innovations are introduced to improve our lives. The accumulation process never seems to stop snowballing until, in reflective moments, we might pause and realize just how much we have accumulated.

Yet a recent study of consumers in 29 nations revealed that many realize that they really don’t need many things they’ve accumulated, and happily could live without most of the items they own. Two-thirds said they regularly seek to get rid of unneeded possessions. And 65 percent said society would be better off if people owned less.

Evaluating our possessions (and our needs and wants) is an important part of our lives. The Bible urges us to seek God’s perspective, and trust Him to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19). It encourages us to realize we don’t need to worry but should seek first His Kingdom, confident that He will take care of us, just as He does the birds and flowers (Matthew 6:25-34).

The Bible describes how one man looked back at his life and thought about all he had accumulated, only to realize that all was “vanity and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). It was a process that never ended. He kept getting more things, yet found that they never gave him lasting joy or peace, but instead led to a sense of emptiness. And he realized how little things added to his life. The one benefit? He was able to look at them.

On this Labor Day, ask God to give you perspective on your life. Seek first His Kingdom. Trust Him. And don’t let things control your life.