The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)

I grew up living in public housing most of my pre-married life. I was always well fed, well clothed and had neat toys, same as the next kid. The only time I felt any “lack” was when I visited the homes of the kids I went to school with in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program back in the 70’s. Because GATE was “experimental,” the classes were usually offered in schools located in affluent neighborhoods, thus, most of the kids I knew lived in homes in the toniest neighborhoods in town, complete with elaborate playrooms and posh fittings.

Fast forward about thirty years – I am now a stay-at-home mom, living in a suburb of one of the most expensive areas in the country. I have the luxury of choosing to write and teach crafts because I want to, not because I need to. I live in a four bedroom home. My husband and I each own a vehicle outright with no payments due on either car. We homeschool our children, and provide them with several outside classes each school year – all at a price.

I don’t list this to brag. Honestly, I think I’m almost as ashamed as I am proud of our honest, hard work. Ashamed? Yes, because I think we spoil our kids entirely too much. They have toys galore. Tons. More than any child needs. They have more clothes than will fit in their closets and drawers. They have bikes, scooters, and skateboards (granted many of these were gifts). And, because of their adopted status, sometimes that crazy thinking comes into play making me justify things by saying I’m giving them that life their mom wanted them to have. What she communicated to us had very little to do with financial provisions (beyond the basic), but rather the quality of life and the love in it, and prayerfully, we do have that!

My oldest son turns 10 this week and has been begging for a Nintendo DS, like the one “all” of his friends have (a slight exaggeration, but many of them do really have one). We’re considering a Nintendo Wii because the whole family can use it and there are lots of fitness benefits for families, in addition to doing them all together.

But, if I’m completely honest, I hate the idea of it. We can afford it without a second thought. What a blessing that is! But, I think we’re jaded. Everyone in our immediate neighborhood parks in their driveway, instead of the garage. Why? Because their garages are crammed full of “stuff.” Just junk. Stuff that sits out there, not being used. I know I have stuff in the garage that I haven’t used in years. We have a storage space in the City to the North of us, where we lived for many years. We pay crazy money on it monthly, and haven’t seen the stuff in it in over 7 years. That’s nuts!

I write this to my shame, because I acquire things ... things not necessary to my existence. My stuff doesn’t mean more to me than God, or my relationship with Him. But, I have it, nonetheless, and contemplate acquiring more. It wouldn’t hurt me to give most of it away. It’s something hubby and I talk about doing a lot, but never have time in our jam packed lives. It's time, now, to purge.

When Jesus spoke of having life more abundantly, I don’t believe this is what He envisioned. Rather, we all should take heed to the cautionary tale told in Luke 12:16-21:

And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive."And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

It is a lesson still needed today.

Photo credit