Stuff

I like stuff. Not so much clothing (although Dave thinks I have too many shoes), but new technology excites me whether its something at home or work. If it has any type of "coolness" factor, I want in on it!

Over the past week I have had a few conversations about this topic and more importantly how the Bible shows us how to overcome the overpowering need to have more and more stuff. Wow, Ecclesiastics is powerful!!

I think the biggest hurdle for me was exactly as John the "Strimple Man" put it last night - being satisfied. When does the 27" television need to become the 52" HDTV? When does a 46' yacht need to become a 60' yacht? Don't misunderstand, if someone has the ability to purchase these items, then more power to them. But should we go in debt for them? Does it always have to be the biggest and best? Can we deal with moderate? Don't look around for the answer! The t.v. commercials are already pushing the "latest" gears and gadgets for the upcoming holiday season, making all parents feel guilty if they don't buy their kids the newest things. Look to the Bible to see...

I may have shared with some the story of our friends who are fortunate when it comes to business and earnings. They live very well and I don't fault them for that at all. They are genuinely great and giving Christians who share their wealth. However, their children were given all the newest and greatest things - computers, Ipods, 4-wheelers, dirtbikes, guitars, etc, . Recently one of their children fell into the wrong "tribe" and ended up spiraling out of control to the point that his parents enrolled him in a private Christian-based "military" school. This was the most difficult thing they had ever done but it was the right thing. The mother told me that she realized that they were loving their son literally to death. They were giving him so much, maybe to compensate for their own poor childhoods, that he and they had lost sight of any boundaries. Their insatiable need to provide and his insatiable need to have more and more almost ruined their lives. Neither could be satisfied. Through God, they were able to realize that something drastic had to happen. Last word we had was that he was doing awesome. They have all made it through the first part but they were told that this is the honeymoon stage so they should be prepared for some difficult times.

This could happen to anyone! This boy was the sweetest kid - we enjoyed the time he spent with our family. Pleasant kid with a smile that made you smile back. Keep them in your prayers.

Over the past few years I have been able to be more patient about new stuff (somewhat...) I think that through a combination of God, love from others, and age, I have learned to be more patient and most importantly to appreciate "stuff" for what it is: just stuff. It's fun but it's just stuff.