^8bWe are treated as imposters, and yet are true; ⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:8b-10

Have you reached the point in your life when you realize that having lots of “stuff” isn’t always a blessing? I remember as a child always looking forward to Christmas and birthdays when I would get more “stuff” that was truly “mine.”

Now, I am a parent of 3 kiddos with generous grandparents, and the owner of a house much larger than I would ever truly “need.” And yet, I still find myself purchasing new storage optimization tools and cabinets for all of the “stuff.” It’s safe to say that the consumeristic and materialistic influences of this western world have had their strong influences in my family. Through it all, I have come to realize the truth of the age-old fable “less is more” and the appeal of simple living continues to increase for me over time.

Proponents of this materialistically minimal lifestyle argue that giving away or throwing away material possessions gives blessings of an entirely different sort, such as less stress and organized houses. Even though something is lost, something greater is gained.

Similarly, St. Paul argues in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 that we might be able to “have nothing” and yet “possess everything.” No, St. Paul is not telling you to get rid of half of your wardrobe (though he probably wouldn’t see that as a bad thing to do). Instead, he is helping us realize that none of the material blessings of this life are even worth comparing to the immeasurable blessings of life with Jesus. As a Christian, even if you have nothing, you possess everything.

PRAYER: Lord God, humble me today to be thankful most not for my material possessions, but for my life in You. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Jarod Koenig