Have you noticed the newer industry sprouting up across the American landscape? Outlets are appearing in such assorted places as the intersection of two Interstate highways in downtown Philadelphia and in remote fields along country roads. The industry is "personal storage," a service provided to average American people. We Americans buy so much that we haven’t enough room, we so highly value the stuff we have that we cannot part with it and then finally sell it for pennies on the dollar. The storage business is a living metaphor of Jesus’ teaching about deciding between laying up treasures in heaven or accumulating stuff where moths, rust and thieves ruin what man treasures (Matthew 6:19-20).
The proliferation of the new business is now so common that several television shows focus on what people store, abandon and allow to be sold at an auction. The "lockers" are full of an assortment of stuff that would be used some day, but . . . . Another indication of our American commitment to the accumulation of stuff is demonstrated on various "house hunting" television programs. Granite counter tops vie for importance with walk-in closets and storage space. I am simultaneously amused and troubled when a newlywed couple being filmed declares, "We must have a three-car garage and two master suites to complement an ‘open concept’ living area, a home office space, craft room and full basement." I thought Pat and I were very good at gathering stuff, but we are clearly minor leaguers in comparison.
How can this be happening while the percentage of people in America living below the poverty line is mushrooming, the middle class is shrinking, people are losing their jobs and foreclosures are common? Is there no better use for our excess stuff? Is the best use of unused tables, lamps, recliners, sofas, tools and clothes collecting dust in storage lockers? Why are major corporations willing to fund television shows about hoarders? Who watches?
If we are made for better than accumulating stuff, and I really believe we are, then we must do the hard work of learning how to live counter-culturally. An early indicator of God’s attitude of sharing and stopping with enough is found in Leviticus 23:22 (NIV)
"'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'" Leave some behind! Make some of your bounty available, without cost, to those who are in need. The story of Ruth centers on the largess of a kinsman. Boaz simply was living out God’s command to refuse to consume everything selfishly and to live generously.
Jesus’ parables reinforced the primitive, but effective system of distribution to satisfy needs. The story Jesus told of the man overtaken by thieves strikes at the heart of selfish living (Luke 10). The lesson on unselfish living is reinforced which is tucked into the narrative of feeding the thousands. One boy shared what he had before everyone’s need was met (Luke 9). And, Jesus’ teaching about the judgment clearly reinforces the rightness of sharing, giving, holding stuff loosely (Matthew 25).
Pat and I are trying to help fund 20 elementary school-aged children attend the Christian academy Pat founded in 2001. The children’s parents are among the working poor, underemployed and living below the poverty line. Their dream for their children is as real and noble ours is for our children and grandchildren. On occasion I struggle when approaching someone who is renting a locker their stuff but are unmoved with the nobility of educating children. I wonder if the press would cover my mischief. I am thinking of mowing my lawn neatly, but leaving a one foot wide section of lawn unmowed . . . all summer . . . until people started to ask, "Why don’t you mow all the lawn?" Maybe that would be a good way to start a conversation about the things are really important!
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