How much will you leave?

(photo credit: interiorcanvas.com)

"So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day." (Psalm 49:16-19, New Living Translation)

A story is told about a wealthy man who died. People in the community began to speculate on just how much his estate was worth. One person finally got up the courage to ask, "How much did he leave?" A wise man answered, "All of it."

It is easy to imagine that life would be so much better if we had more money or more stuff. If we are not careful, the stuff begins to take control. Before long we are, as one person said, "Spending money we don't have to buy things we don't need so that we can impress people we don't even like."

There's nothing inherently wrong with money or stuff. The problem comes when we focus our lives on acquisition rather than stewardship. If we are investing our lives in eternal things for the glory of God, we may not leave an estate, but we will leave a legacy.

Another verse from the same Psalm: "But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave." (49:15, NLT)

Death has no power over those whose lives have been redeemed by God. If death has no power over us, neither should our stuff.

Question: What can you do to keep "stuff" in perspective?

Leave a comment below.  I'd love to hear your perspective.