Your stuff isn't worth your life

If we allow our concern over our stuff to interfere with God’s plans for our lives, we’re walking a dangerous line.

Oct 25, 2024

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

What is your most prized possession? Everyone has something that they own that matters a lot to them, whether it’s an item of intrinsic value or sentimental value.

Personally, I don’t really have anything that’s extremely valuable financially speaking. But I do have many sentimental treasures. I have a heart-shaped porcelain bowl that belonged to my great grandmother. I have my grandpa’s Bible that he used right after he accepted Jesus. I have a handmade sign hanging on my wall that a friend made for me and proudly displayed when I came home from my freshman year of college.

I won’t strike it rich on Antiques Roadshow anytime soon, but all of those things are priceless to me.

Growing up in Kansas, you learn really quickly what has value and what doesn’t, mostly because you have to know immediately what you can get in a tornado shelter and what you can’t. I remember one year we had a tornado bearing down on us. I grabbed my laptop and my flash drive and went to the basement. Everything that actually mattered to me at that time was there.

We place so much value in our possessions, and it’s understandable. We work hard for the things we have. We invest our money and our time to earn them. Our homes, our cars, our toys, our technology—all of it is symbolic of our success in life. I don’t mind telling you that I’m proud of my library. It’s extensive and probably excessive.

But at the end of the day, all our things are just things. Scripture tells us that everything we can actually see isn’t real. It’s what we can’t see that is real. All of our possessions, all of our money, all of our stuff will stay here. We can’t take it with us.

But it’s hard to let go of our stuff, isn’t it?

This story in the Bible sounds really harsh. It’s this young man who enthusiastically approaches Jesus and declares that he’s done everything that he needs to do to be saved. And he wants to know what more he has to do. You can read the full text in Matthew 19:16-26, and there’s a great article about this story on GotQuestions.

Basically, this young man wanted to earn his way into heaven. He thought he could do enough to impress Jesus. He thought he could be obedient enough, pious enough, righteous enough on his own. And Jesus knew that. That’s why Jesus responded the way He did.

To get to heaven, you have to be perfect, so that means giving away everything you have to others and living only for your treasure in eternity.

And, if you know the story, you know the young man refused. And he was sad about it, but that didn’t change his decision. He loved his stuff too much, which meant he didn’t love his neighbors the way the Ten Commandments say to do. Which means he hadn’t done all that needed to be done in order to be saved.

It’s not about obeying the Law. It’s not about being perfect. None of us can accomplish that. It’s about trusting Jesus.

But even those of us who trust Jesus with our souls still fear for our stuff. We don’t want to lose our comforts. We don’t want to lose our possessions. We don’t want to lose our valuables. And that’s valid. Hey, it’s even being a good steward, really. If God’s given it to you, you should take care of it.

But at the same time, if we allow our concern over our stuff to interfere with God’s plans for our lives, we’re walking a dangerous line.

Yes, God gave you the things you own. He blessed you with your home and your cars and your other possessions. All of those things are a blessing from Him. That doesn’t mean you get to keep them for the rest of your life. That means they are yours to steward until God wants them back. He has a purpose and a plan for every possession He gave you. Don’t make the mistake of thinking something He gave you is yours; you’re just taking care of it for a little while.

Don’t be controlled by your fear of losing what you own. God gave it to you in the first place. He can give you something better.