Stuff Schtuff

(from the Complete Book of Discipleship, chapter 3, by Bill Hull)

Light reflection on Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans, and their desire to live the life that Jesus lived... in poverty.

"To what extent should present-day disciples give up material wealth? That question created bitter battles even among Francis's own disciples.
However, we should be willing to admit that materialism, probably more than any of other factor, clouds the judgement of American Christians ---Sandra's note: or Western Christians in general--- (see 1 Timothy 6:6-10)."

Let me pause here for one sec to look up those verses.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (Today's New International Version)

^"6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

For Paul it is clear that Christians shouldn't run after money and things. It also reminds me of a note from John Piper about these things becoming idols and replacing God.

"It [materialism] dulls our appetite for God and the need for his grace in our daily life. The accumulation of stuff creates its own anxiety and busies us with its cares and growth. It creates a consumer mentality, driving churches to build bigger buildings and make numerical growth the goal. It taints the gospel, creating the monster of competition that we must continually feed."

Hull's observation isn't difficult to agree with. You just need to look around at all the STUFF we have and this thing we call "abundance". Just stuff, stuff and more... stuff. The idea I suppose is that accumulation of stuff will result in satisfaction. I was born in a culture that feeds people to that sort of mentality and although I know i'ts all a lie there are times when I am really concerned about the amount of stuff I have: I count the number of shoes my friends have, I notice every new outfit, I (literally) covet my neighbour's house (windows especially! lol), I envy people's financial comfort. I don't have a lot of money so I am always on the lookout for FREE STUFF. I think about what Hull says now and realise that after all there isn't much of a difference between the two, is there?

Whether rich or poor, you can be tempted to make stuff a god - it's very subtle and dangerous I think. And we should be alert and discipline ourselves remembering that "ALREADY YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED!! ALREADY YOU HAVE BECOME KINGS!" (Paul, to the Corinthians, 4:8)

Ahh, I need so much less than I think I do.

"Thus I draw from Francis of Assisi the reality of loving the poor, but not necessarily becoming poor on purpose. The Franciscan monastics remind us to live simply so that we can use any wealth we have for the benefit of others. When you glance through most of the contemporary literature on discipleship, this aspect is shamefully absent."

A lot to consider. Am I willing to give up all things for Jesus and godliness's sake? am I trusting in grace or in things?

Where am I storing up my treasures?