Jan
30
2008
30
2008
Excess
Filed under: Consumerism, Contentment, Following Jesus, Simplifying, Stuff
The more time I spend with Jesus, the more disenchanted I am with the things of this world. I’m soaking in His words and realizing once again what He is all about. And I’m wondering. Pondering. Over and over in my head…
How can people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ live a life of EXCESS?
I don’t know the answer…because there are so many more questions that go hand in hand with this:
“What IS excess?”
“Is one person’s excess different than another person’s?”
“Is living with excess ever ok?
Let’s start by defining excess:
1. The state of exceeding what is normal or sufficient.
2. An amount or quantity beyond what is normal or sufficient; a surplus.
Ok. So…excess is having more than you need. But what exactly is a “need”? Is having a new living room set a need? Is having brand name clothing a need? Is having more than two pairs of jeans a need? Is having organic food a need?
See what I mean? It’s very difficult to nail down exactly what a need is. Everyone defines it differently. I may look at someone and think that they are living a life of excess…but chances are, they don’t see it that way. They may see it as being “blessed”. Each part of the country will have a different answer. Each income bracket. Each church. Each family.
Has our definition of excess and need changed over the years? Yes. TV and advertising has radically altered our view of necessity. Your parents’ and grandparents’ definition of need is most likely different than yours. Go a few weeks without watching TV. Don’t visit the mall. Don’t read the advertisements from the Sunday paper or open “SALE!” emails in your inbox. And then….see how different those wants and needs feel. How much less “urgent” they seem.
Is excess having more than one of something? Is it having two or three or four of something? Bikes? Cars? Cell phones? Coats? Shoes? Pots and pans? Why do we have so many of these things? When there are people in the world without shelter, without food, without basic necessities…how do we go on accumulating more for ourselves? It reminds me of the quote by Ghandi, “Live simply so others may live”. How can we stop consuming so much…so that we are able to provide more resources for others?
I would suggest that we figure out WHY we are running after all of these “things”. Why are people working 80 hours a week to pay for a house that they are never there to enjoy? I’ve heard it so many times since we hit the road for the tour…people saying “I wish I could do that!”. When I tell them that they COULD do it…they give me all the reasons why they couldn’t. They have a big house payment.They just bought a new car with payments. They have too much credit card debt. Notice a pattern? Everything holding them back is related to money. Money they spent that they didn’t have anyway. They were seduced into believing they needed these things, and now they must work endless hours to pay for it all. And now they just want a real life.
On a somewhat related note…
I’ve often heard it said that if there weren’t wealthy Christians with an excess of possessions and money, who would minister to the wealthy unbelievers? Who would be “in their crowd” to show Christ to them? What about Christians who use their abundant resources to reach the lost? Who open up their large homes for people to use? Could all of that extra money be used in a different way that is more effective in ministry? I don’t know what the answer is to this. I’ve asked so many people this question over the years and no one gives me the same answer. My initial thought: Isn’t God bigger than that? Does he not own all the resources in the world? I don’t think it’s necessary to “blend in” to the world to minister to the world. I think everyone could live simply and still minister to all types of people.
I read an interesting excerpt on the Youth Specialties website regarding how Christians and consumerism:
The materialism of American Christianity rests entirely in the fact that we’ve turned one single verse on its head. Paul surrenders himself with the words, “To the Jews I become like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those not having the law” (1 Cor. 9:20 NIV). When in Rome, we might say.
But American Christians are largely doing this in reverse order. Paul chose to be like the Gentiles to minister to the Gentiles. We choose to minister to the suburban middle class, because we have chosen to be like them. The average American Christian seeks to go to college, secure a career, move to the suburbs, have 2.5 kids, and then declare, “Here I am, Lord! Send me!” We, the crew, have cast out the anchor and settled down before asking the captain, “To where are we sailing?” And I imagine that Jesus feels like his call to us is like a captain trying to steer an anchored ship. In the Navy, this is called mutiny.
I just wonder. I wonder what kind of amazing, crazy adventures God would take us on if we gave Him the reigns before we TOLD him what we were doing and asked Him to come along?
Jesus makes it very clear in the following parable that having “riches” makes it more difficult, but not impossible to follow Him.
The Rich Man
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,[a] what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied.“There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep[b] the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied:
“‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c]” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
21 Jesus told him,
“If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said,
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
I’ve found this to be so true in my own life. In times where our income has been small…I rely on Jesus for EVERY LITTLE THING. I ask him to help me be wise in my grocery shopping…to help me choose the right foods for the right price. When we are bringing in more money, I tend to forget about praying before I head into the store. More money feels like security. I mistakingly believe that I have provided myself with a safety net. But in reality…ALL things come from God. Nothing is ours to begin with. And if you continue on that road long enough…believing that YOU are the one who EARNED your income to buy all of your excess things, it will be harder and harder for you to rely on God for your daily needs.
I do not believe that making a good income is bad in itself. It’s when people start to put their hope and trust in it…when they start to think that the world would fall in if that money went away tomorrow. The following quote by John Wesley really hits the point home:
“When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.”
Jesus knew the seductive power of money…and this is why he spoke about it more than most things in the Bible.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17).
“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘who is the Lord’? Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonour the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:8).
“And my God will supply all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Living simply and giving money away to others is a radical way to live in today’s society. But are we not called to live a life set apart? A life that is different? Right now, it just seems like most people are blending in. Be different…and confront your ideas about excess.
I’d love for this to be a starting point for a discussion about these ideas…I truly have no answers here. In fact, I think I asked more questions in this post than I answered. These are ideas that are constantly in my mind…and I would love to hear your thoughts. I know there isn’t one “right” answer to the question about having excess…but let’s all learn from each other’s experiences and insight.
Posted by Sara @ 10:49 pm | Leave a Comment
1
2008
[...] anything right now. However, I’d like to just pass on Sara’s most recent blog post on “Excess”. Definitely a great post!! I think it comes at a time where our society definitely needs to be [...]
2
2008
sara, i highly recommend a book by randy alcorn called money, possessions and eternity. i don’t know if you have read it or not, but i believe it will have a powerful effect on you. it certainly did for me. thanks!
julie harris
3
2008
Hi Sara – Probably one of the hardest questions for anyone trying to follow a more natural path of living in a very modern world is how much is enough? I imagine we all here think about it every time some ‘thing’ comes up.
What my family has decided is that while we truly believe that most Americans really have more stuff than they need (A LOT!) that we cannot be the ones to judge what is enough for another person. It is one of the worst things that we can do to each other. Who knows, the person with 2 bikes may not have a car and got one bike off a street corner as a back up, the person with the new mini-van may be adopting triplets from their cousin who can’t care for them, the person with the 3000 sq ft house may have 10 kids and is foster parents to 3? Maybe the person who has said that they would love to be able to go on an RV tour has to work 2 jobs for 60 hrs a week in order to be able to get health insurance benefits and have enough money to cover his daughters treatments for cystic fibrosis or cerebal palsy?
We have decided what is enough for us and are always trying to decrease that every time we can. We try to influence those that are close to us in the wonderful ways that we can and carry our values to our children. Ours are not based in religion, rather in finding out that at some point the beauty of the world should be enough for everyone on it. Finding happiness in the moment around you and those in it bring you true happiness, not wealth or material goods.
We truly are one civilization and we have a responsibility to do everything that we can to ensure that the home of that civilization and it’s people are taken care of.
Peace and LESS STUFF to all !
3
2008
Just started reading your blog. Love it. I feel as if I’ve been struggling with scaling down for a long time. Most people I know struggle with this and yet make little progress towards a solution so that one’s energy can be pointed towards other things. I not only want to clear my home of many things, I also want to steward them into a better place than the back of my closet. Such a struggle. But I feel newly invigorated to continue the battle.
4
2008
[...] I’ll just refer you to Sara over at Walk Slowly, Live Wildly who writes on the topic of Excess, and in doing so has captured so well my own thoughts and the myriad questions for which I remain [...]
4
2008
Hi Sara,
I have been visiting your wonderful thought-provoking site for quite a while now but I think this is my first comment. I found this entry on excess so challenging and I enjoyed reading through the many comments as well. We, too, are trying to tread a little more lightly on this precious earth and although we have a way to go every little helps. I’ve left a link to this post on my site, I hope you don’t mind.
Thanks for your thoughtful challenges and suggesions, Kathy
4
2008
Great questions – someone pointed me to this post today – very appropriate on a day when we’re considering moving to a house across the street because of extra space and a pool. DO we really need it? Could we (or maybe would we) use it as a place of ministry? Or would we hoard our blessings? Definitely need to do some praying about this before we decide – not after.
Thanks for the thoughts.
4
2008
I feel like you have been inside my head hearing all the questions I have been asking myself….Heather and I have been having a lot of conversations about this very topic. I wish you could come over and have coffee with us:)…any time you are passing through!
4
2008
I think the key word is urgent. How much of life really is urgent (barring, God forbid, life-threatening circumstances)! I need to be constantly thinking about how the urgent need happens to be the souls of those all around me- unsaved, unknowing, unaware.
Excess is not urgent in any way, shape or form. Thanks for the reminder, friend!
6
2008
I’m not sure how coherent my thoughts will be, but I’m going to give it a go.
I drive a Lexus. This seems to be the standard car brand that gets mentioned when people are commenting on the wealthy, like the Saint Lexus comment stated above-but it’s not the first time my choice of car has been used in such a way. We searched a long time to find a reliable, well made car. My hubbie found just the one he was looking for and we purchased it with cash. It was used and 5 years old when we bought it. We don’t believe in creating debt for ourselves (other than mortgage – and that we look at as more of an investment). Because we don’t believe in debt, my hubbie drove an old Honda w/no A/C, holes in the floor boards (covered w/boards and a mat), needed oil added to it on a regular basis and had over 300,000 miles on it, while we saved. We’ve been driving the Lexus for 8 years now. I guess that was just to say the same person drove that old, beat up Honda is the same person who drives the luxury car. Only, during those 8 years, that person continues to grow in Christ, grow in wisdom, and continues to strive for humility.
6
2008
[...] my recent frugal rut and thinking about Meredith’s questions from Monday. Sara’s post on Excess from Walk Slowly, Live Wildly added to my thoughts. The question? When is enough enough? How hard [...]
6
2008
“What about Christians who use their abundant resources to reach the lost? Who open up their large homes for people to use? Could all of that extra money be used in a different way that is more effective in ministry?”
But, see, this is one of the BIG problems with trying to peer into the lives of others and make judgments. It might appear to us that someone with a LOT of money might use their money more effectively…but perhaps God’s not interested in what’s most efficient or effective from our standpoint. What seems wasteful to us 1) might not seem so to God and 2) God can still use for good.
Good friends of my mom’s, both doctors, spent a lot of their lives accumulating wealth. And now they send other doctors (as well as themselves) on mission trips around the world and they’ve just bought a game farm in S Africa to start a ministry/orphanage for AIDS orphans. I’d imagine that, to most, their years of just getting more and more money probably seemed excessive.
You know, there’s a guy who drives around DM in what we call the God Truck. It has Bible quotes all over it and he blares Come to Jesus messages over a bullhorn as he drives around. I’ve often thought that was a huge waste of money, effort, and time. But yet, if the man who drives it feels sincerely led to do so by God…who am I to judge? If his efforts bring just one person to Christ, was it a waste?
I think what it comes down to is that our focus should be on what direction God is giving us…not on whether we or others have enough or too much or not enough.
19
2008
I just came across your blog today and I must say I’m glad I did! I really enjoy reading what you have written.
With that being said, this particular post really struck home with me. I lost my job 8 months ago and I’ve really learned what I “need” and what I “want” in this life. I lived on less and loved these past 8 months. They have been the eye opener that I needed. I reconnected with my church, volunteered, find all kinds of ways to make money here and there (focus groups, selling on ebay etc). Its actually been FUN!!!!!! A concept I had long ago forgotten about.
If you would have told me a year ago I would loose my job and not work for 8 months and everything would still be ok, I would not have believed you. I was way too tied up in what I WANTED and let that and money control my life.
I can honestly tell you I have a completely new perspective that I was in desperate need of. Thanks for your posts. I look forward to more inspiring reading
28
2008
Fantastic post! It is timely reading for me. I am on a mission to purge the excess from my home and move toward a simpler, more God centered focus. Thank you for sharing this!
28
2008
I hope you don’t mind that I am going to link this amazing post from my blog.
28
2008
[...] I stumbled across this fantastic article on Christians and excess over at Walk Slowly, Live Wildly: Excess. [...]
8
2008
They may see it as being “blessed”
I think this statement hits it for a lot of us. We tend to think that possessing something makes it a blessing, even though we often “take” things without asking God if He really wants us to have it. I wrote a little bit about this here:
http://pezmama.blogspot.com/2007/08/on-blessings.html
I think it is good to consider that needs are different for different people. For example, we used cloth diapers on our first two children. We adopted our third when she was 9 months old, and tried to switch her over to cloth. It was a horrible transition. She squirmed and wiggled and cried, cried, cried. We were already having some other adjustment/attachment issues with her and for that situation, we really needed to just use disposables while we worked through some other things. In my mind, the loss of her peace of mind wasn’t worth the cost to our budget and to the environment.
Yet, I think that in general, western Christians are much more blinded by our love of “stuff” than we’d like to admit. In the gospels’ teaching about the rich young man (Matt 19, Mark 10, Luke 18) Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and give to the poor. The man went away sad, because he was very rich, and stood to lose many possessions.
Whenever I hear teaching about this story, someone invariably askes “But doesn’t God want us to have nice stuff?” That’s how entrenched we are in materialism. We can’t even imagined being loved by someone (including God) without the love being expressed with “stuff.” In my mind, anyone who asks such a question is the very kind of person who DOES need to sell their stuff. If we can’t imagine being happy without it, then we are more attached than God wants us to be.
The Old Testament tells of the Levites, who were the priestly line of Israel. Unlike the other tribes of Israel, they were not given land to possess. After restating this in a previous verse, God explains in Ezekiel 44:28 that the Levites will have no possession because “I will be their possession.”
Believers in this age are called a “royal priesthood.” GOD is our possession. The rest is just fluff. How satisfied would we be if God was our only possession? That’s a hard question to ask, but one that I think God wants us to.
Too often the joy that we often talk about as Christians is really joy over our stuff. That sounds just like the rest of the world – pursuing happiness through stuff. Why would nonbelievers be atracted to our joy when it’s really no different than theirs?
How much supernatural power would flow out of us if the rest of the world saw all these Christians completely unconcerned and unencumbered by stuff, yet living lives that were inexplicably joyful and productive?
Now I’m rambling. Sorry.
16
2009
Does some body really read the comments? If so you will not believe this.My nameis Maria from northern CA and I had a dream about excess. In my dream I saw a website address “excess on it”. At firstin finding your site, I was afraid it was a porn site but then I laughed out loud and said “I got Jesus”. Thank you for reminding me about his wisdom and how Jesus was like us; human too. Your site is delightful because it gives positive engery. I think I will start up
a site to write about my dreams.
I dream every day and God speaks to me in my dreams. I guess you can consider me a dreamer. I understand dreams and I interpret them very well.
I think we need a balance as far as food, resources, material possession, power and money. Until we want to change this unbalancement of excess then we will all suffer from to much (FAT) and from not having ( starvation). We are sick from thinking
more is better. I believe it is a balance. And that God really loves us and enjoys giving us all the desires in our hearts. I think sometime God wants to spoil us but we think it is evil or we just do not deserve to recieve from God. Yes if we have excess than it is up to us or its our responsiblity to share it with others, thats if you want to.
As far as Jesus he has or had his opinon.He is a tough one. Always making me think out of the box.
God Bless
Maria
19
2010
hey buddy… i just wanted to say that my browser is crashing when I click on the text… are you using some scripts or something?
31
2010
Hi, just doing some research for my Birkenstock site. Amazing the amount of information on the web. Looking for something else, but great site. Have a great day.
9
2010
Hi Sara,
I’ve just found your blog:)
I can feel Jesus inspiration…you are blessed!
by the way… do you believe in Angels?
Peace*
p.s – connecting from Portugal.