Life as a River
Are you a Spiritual Hoarder?
i recently ran across this short article by Gene from a web site: Q4NP,
which stands for "Quest for a new perspective:. You can read his blog postings at http://www.questforanewperspective.com
which stands for "Quest for a new perspective:. You can read his blog postings at http://www.questforanewperspective.com
Hoarders are popular these days. They are people who can’t resist keeping nearly everything that they own whether it’s trash or treasure. There are TV shows about hoarders. One show is simply called Hoarders. American Pickers is all about two guys who search for valuables in hoarder’s homes and outbuildings.
Hoarders love to receive but they don’t like to give. Hoarders like to surround themselves with possessions. They receive comfort from their stuff. They like to save everything that comes their way.
Hoarders are those who take the world’s standards and goals to the extreme. The world says, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.” The world asks, “How much can I acquire in my lifetime?” Hoarders take it all – no matter the value – and cling to it for life support.
I’ve seen a lot of hoarding Christ-followers during my 25 years of ministry. They take what they can get from Jesus but they don’t give back much. They soak up the worship and teaching on Sunday mornings but they don’t share it with others. They take advantage of the Church’s programs and events but they don’t offer to help in anyway.
Back in the ’80′s, Amy Grant sang a cute little song called “Fat Baby.” It’s about Christians who stuff themselves with Christian things, e.g., music, teaching, books, activities, but they never share what God is doing in their lives. They never mature spiritually. They remain spiritual babes throughout their lives and just get fatter and fatter as they hoard all of the blessings that come their way.
This is not God’s desire for you. He doesn’t want you to be a fat baby. His wonderful plan for your life does not include hoarding all of the blessings that you enjoy.
Instead of asking, “How much can I get?” we should be asking, “How much can I give?”
Instead of asking, “What is the safe thing to do?” we should be asking, “What is the right thing to do?”
Instead of asking, “What is the least I can do?” we should be asking, “What is the most I can do?”
You’ve been granted life, not to keep for yourself, but to spend for others. Jesus said, “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).
What are you hoarding that you can give away today? It could be a possession. It could be time. It could be money. It could be knowledge. It could be love and attention.
Don’t hoard your blessings. Share them.
Hoarders love to receive but they don’t like to give. Hoarders like to surround themselves with possessions. They receive comfort from their stuff. They like to save everything that comes their way.
Hoarders are those who take the world’s standards and goals to the extreme. The world says, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.” The world asks, “How much can I acquire in my lifetime?” Hoarders take it all – no matter the value – and cling to it for life support.
I’ve seen a lot of hoarding Christ-followers during my 25 years of ministry. They take what they can get from Jesus but they don’t give back much. They soak up the worship and teaching on Sunday mornings but they don’t share it with others. They take advantage of the Church’s programs and events but they don’t offer to help in anyway.
Back in the ’80′s, Amy Grant sang a cute little song called “Fat Baby.” It’s about Christians who stuff themselves with Christian things, e.g., music, teaching, books, activities, but they never share what God is doing in their lives. They never mature spiritually. They remain spiritual babes throughout their lives and just get fatter and fatter as they hoard all of the blessings that come their way.
This is not God’s desire for you. He doesn’t want you to be a fat baby. His wonderful plan for your life does not include hoarding all of the blessings that you enjoy.
Instead of asking, “How much can I get?” we should be asking, “How much can I give?”
Instead of asking, “What is the safe thing to do?” we should be asking, “What is the right thing to do?”
Instead of asking, “What is the least I can do?” we should be asking, “What is the most I can do?”
You’ve been granted life, not to keep for yourself, but to spend for others. Jesus said, “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).
What are you hoarding that you can give away today? It could be a possession. It could be time. It could be money. It could be knowledge. It could be love and attention.
Don’t hoard your blessings. Share them.
Be a River and not a Reservoir (Hoarder)
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