I grew up in a country where serious material needs are essentially nonexistent. Not even our homeless and poorest of the poor have to worry about starving to death or freezing... some of them are even obese! I've become aware only recently how incredibly naive I was (and probably still am) about wealth and the quality of life for most of the worlds populace. These charts are counterintuitive but they tell the story:
May "God bless America", but it does not need a blessing, it needs a revival! Growing up here I have been fortunate, but I have also seen first hand how "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). I have also seen how godly people can so easily become entirely sidetracked or even find their comfort & security in possessions."It is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God" (Luke 18:25). Does my wealth serve me or do I serve my wealth; do I feel I am the owner of it, or simply a steward of what God has entrusted me with? Would I honestly be willing to give up everything I own in order to serve God?
Tough questions - I grapple with them every day. When I was challenged to move into the shed I was excited to, but was actually a little fearful about giving up this small amount of comfort and convenience - realizing how attached to those things I was only drove me to want to do it even more. And I'm glad I did! I have grown and continue to grow less attached to my own comfort, convenience and possessions.
No, I'm not saying you should live in a shed* or give up everything you own just to make sure you're not overly attached to it. I'm challenging you to geniunely think about the hold your material wealth has on you, in light of Luke 18:25. Regard what you do have as a blessing. And don't let your desires for what you don't have rob you of joy.
*But if you do decide you'd benefit from experiencing the shed life, I am subleasing. ;)
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