Money, money, possessions

"Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor dust corrupts, and theives do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:20-21

Jesus placed little value on the things of this world. The King was born in a stable, among the animals. The Prince of Peace was a carpenter, working with His hands. He had no 'place to lay His head'. (Luke 9:58) He traveled to different places all the time. Do you think He toted around a big suitcase full of clothes, shoes, soap, etc? Nope. Probably just the clothes on His back. Do you think He stayed in Holiday Inns? Nope. Wherever He and His disciples were welcome, usually at the home of someone they knew. Sometimes out the open air. He didn't have many possessions, and what He had, He would have freely given away to someone in need. He didn't love the things in the world. After all, what's the point of accumulating things?

As for us...do we love the things of this world? Are we always trying to accumulate more? We get so excited about going shopping for clothes, when we have plenty of clothes we don't even wear! We go and buy things for our home, then get home and have no room for them! We buy our kids more toys, and they have tons of toys they don't play with, not because they don't like them, but because they don't have time because they have so many other toys! And we keep buying them new toys. We want a new car, but what's wrong with our old car? We want this, and that, but do we need it? Why do we want it?

Why don't we take what we have and give to people who need it, who will appreciate it? When we go and buy a new shirt, why don't we give one we already have away to someone who needs it? When we go buy our kids a new toy, let's give away one that's gently played with to a kid who doesn't have many or any toys? Before we just "blow" our money, let's make sure there's not a better use with it...say for God's kingdom?