“Then [Jesus] said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
I recently listened to a National Public Radio interview of a woman who had written a book on downsizing. It will come as no surprise to you, that many of us accumulate way too much stuff in a lifetime. In the interview, the woman shared how after her parents had both passed, that she and her brother had the difficult task of deciding what to do with all their parent’s possessions.
They knew their mother’s most prized possession was her set of china, yet neither one of them had room for it, nor wanted it. Although stressful, it was also a relief when they finally made the decision to simply box it up and take it to Goodwill.
It is a popular misconception that the bible says, money is the root of all evil. Although, the bible does give many warnings about storing up an abundance of goods, what the bible actually says is, “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10a)
Money is not a problem when we keep it in the proper perspective. There are many examples in the bible where people are financially blessed by God. However, when we are given much, God expects us to pass on our blessings to others who are less fortunate. We are blessed to be a blessing!
The concept of being blessed to be a blessing to others is demonstrated in the life of Charles “Chuck” Feeney. According to Forbes magazine, Feeney, who is 89, has given away $8 billion dollars to charities. Charles Feeney, who was the co-founder of airport retailer Duty Free Shoppers, says he believes in the idea of “Giving While Living”.
You may have never heard of Feeney because he gave away all the money anonymously and wanted it to stay that way. Feeney, who now lives in an apartment in San Francisco with his wife, reportedly kept about $2 million for their retirement. Feeney, who encourages people of means to follow his philosophy, is quoted as saying, “My thanks to all who joined us on this journey. And to those wondering about Giving While Living: Try it, you’ll like it.”
We may not have billions, or millions, or even thousands of dollars to give to charities, but each of us have been blessed by God in some significant way. Whether it is our time, our talents, or our possessions, we all have something to contribute.
I would encourage you to discover your blessing and share it for God’s glory. If you have been blessed financially, consider ways in which you can be a blessing to others, for the world needs more people like Charles Feeney. And finally, take a second look at that old china that you never use, maybe there is someone who could use and appreciate right now?
Thank you everyone for your continued support of myself and the ministry of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. You truly are a blessing!
Servants together,
Pastor Bob
