Stuff

I’ve been given a couple of reminders that my 'stuff' isn't important to anyone else.  I've written about 'stuff' before.  Friday I was reading about someone else's 'stuff' on MSNBC.  A man was selling his, and said:

"You realize that everything you have has a story." Like the wood carvings he purchased from poor kids at the end of a hike in Zimbabwe.  Or the signed painting he purchased from an artist in the Southwest for $250 several years ago. It went for $30.

"You realize many of the things you have aren't worth what you thought they were,' he said.  "But it is just stuff.  It has been a cathartic process.  It's a unique mental process. ... It has made me realize how shackled I have become to comfort of my home and belongings."

This isn't the same as having a lot of excess baggage. This is abandoning a way of life to seek another.  Our world's current economic situation is leading to more such changes, accompanied by drought, fires floods, earthquakes that have taken people's "stuff." It's not just the thieves Christ described:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:19-20 KJV)

He understood that we would find things to treasure, and He has a place for those treasures, for He knows we will love them.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21 KJV)

How about some crown laid up for us in heaven?  How about an incorruptible one?

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV)

That we can strive for!  But there are other crowns, too.  How about one we'll share simply for being in the presence of our Lord:

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV)

Another favorite, for those who love Him:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)

Still another, just requiring love to obtain:

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12 KJV)

That's the stuff I want to build up.  Like Victoria, Queen of England, I wish to take the crowns He has given and lay them as a gift, returning to Him all the glory, honor and gifts he has bestowed.

That's good stuff!!