Ownership is overrated
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths andcorroded by rust or-worse!-stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in
heaven, where it’s safe…The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most
want to be.” Matt. 6:19
Ownership is overrated. Much better to have a friend with a boat than to have a boat. Who wants to maintain it?
Better to have a friend with a cabin than a cabin. We say we own stuff, but really, it owns us. As it gets older, it becomes more expensive to maintain. You find yourself thinking about all the stuff that needs to be repaired and how you’re going to repair it.
I like the new sharing ethic that’s making its way into our society. Why own a car when you can get a zip car? Why have a timeshare when you can go surf a couch? You’ve heard of couchsurfing – a new concept that “takes an ancient notion of hospitality and tucks it into a thoroughly modern paradigm.”
When you own stuff, you’re set up to fight nature, or at least the second law of thermodynamics. In the end, it’s a losing proposition – entropy wins.
Better to make Acts 2 a lifestyle. Better to share. When you share, your mind is free to think about important things.
We’ve been in our home 18 years now. Pieces of the house are falling apart. The yard perpetually needs more attention than we can give it. As a base of operations, it’s great. But with the life that I have left, I’m going to focus on things that don’t wear out.
What about you – what has your heart? Where are you storing your treasure?
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Here is the simple test, If you own it would you share it with someone else? If not, it owns you get rid of it quick…
Thanks Seth. This is insightful and provocative. Interestingly enough the people in my life these days who talk about the burden of “stuff” are mostly the kids of wealthy parents from whom they were shielded from the “burdens” of provision. Any thoughts about that? Another way to say it is a question I’ll often ask. “Did your parents pay for you to go to college?” The answer says a great deal…Hope you are well…Shalom…
In order to share, someone has to “own”. What gift as well to be one who can share.