Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

Have you heard of Marie Kondo?  Kondo is a popular guru known for helping people simplify and tidy up their lives.  She asks people to really think about why they own the things that they do. Many around the world have been inspired to take critical stock of what has use or importance in their homes.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, the Bible also calls you to think carefully about how to manage the material things you’ve been given, because scripture says it comes from God (1 Chronicles 29:14).  Are you putting to best use what you’ve been given?

If you’re ready to improve your stewardship, here are some simple steps you can take to reduce your dependency on rapid consumerism:

If you have something that you aren’t using, consider selling it or, better yet, think of who you know that could use it. Giving away something of value is the most fun thing to do!
If you own something of good quality that’s broken, pay for it to be repaired or buy the spare part rather than replacing the object altogether. Parents, this is a great lesson for your kids to see that items aren’t disposable just because they require care.
When you do need to replace something, consider buying secondhand, or borrow or trade with a friend, when possible.

These practices, and hopefully more ideas of your own, should, as Marie Kondo likes to put it, “spark joy!”

 

Resource reading: Luke 12:13-21