Possessions

I've been studying Luke 16:1-13 for Sunday and as I did I was reminded of something a friend shared with us when our oldest two were toddlers.

The Toddler’s rules of toys
1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my hands, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a week ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I think it’s mine, it’s mine.
9. If it’s near me, it’s mine.
10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.

Fascinatingly I don't think we overly change much as we get older we still cling to what is "ours".  Jesus is right to be grieved by the rich young ruler, things exert such a powerful hold on us that they either stop us coming to Christ or shortcircuit our radical discipleship because we hold things back as ours.

A nudge to not loving things

I nipped into town at lunch to help my wife pick out a dress for a wedding. On the way back home as we pulled in to a petrol station to get diesel I noticed that our car had been keyed. Clearly it was deliberate as the individual hadn't just scratched one side but to both sides of the car whilst it was in the car park, and the paint dust was still fresh.

Such an incident poses a question; how am I going to respond? Do I get mad, angry and frustrated? Or do I take it as another nudge from God not to love the things of the world, especially as cars are one of those things I am prone to loving?

I am not saying we are to be careless with our possessions they are given to us by God to steward, but they are given to us to use, they are not to be what I worship. The world and people being what they are they will not last, they will rust, be stolen (keyed) and will not provide satisfaction unlike God.