I love the comedy of George Carlin. I especially enjoy his routine about stuff. It’s about how all the stuff I save is stuff and all the stuff other people save is . . . something else. Mr. Carlin was a funny, vulgar, brilliantly prophetic atheist.
When I need stuff or want stuff and I get stuff, I feel better. There’s a satisfaction and an endorphin release that comes with getting the stuff you want. And there’s a diminishing marginal utility when it comes to the enjoyment factor of having more and more stuff.
How much stuff do you have? How much of your stuff do you hold onto simply because having more stuff makes you feel more secure or powerful?
In the Bible reading for this week – from Luke 12:13-21 – Jesus addresses stuff.
- Stay away from greed
- Stop accumulating so much stuff
- Focus on having a rich relationship with God
- The sum of your life is not measured by how much stuff you have.
Is it as simple as that?
How much stuff is too much?
When do our earthly possessions become things we are just accumulating instead of investing in a rich relationship with God?
What do you think the sum of our lives should be measured by?
What is the balance of having enough stuff and having an unhealthy amount of stuff?
And how does it affect our overall health?
Kirk Moore is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He's been a member of the Mental Health Network Board and is also a therapeutic musician, playing music at the bedside for patients - to help bring about the relaxation response to help healing. Find out more at therapeuticmusic.org