Eventually The Joy Of Stuff Becomes A Burden (A Christmas Message)

Way, Way, Way Too Much Stuff ...

Yes, there is such a thing as "Too Much Stuff".   
"For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much." Ex.36:7

We are not defined by how much stuff we can accumulate. The best things in life are free.        
"...regard notyour stuff; for the good of all the land ... is yours." Gen.45:20

All thieves, con-men, burglars, embezzlers, hi-jackers, and forgers, are simply after more stuff.   "...they ... have also stolen ... and they have put it even among their own stuff. Josh.7:11

Many hoarders and wealthy folks are hiding their true, insecure selves behind a facade of stuff to confirm their personal value   "... he hath hid himself among the stuff." 1 Sam.10:22

Some stuff is necessary in peace and in war. Some of that stuff is valuable. All valuable stuff is not necessary, but it still requires the presence of armed guards. Fully one third of General David's armed forces were not in the battle. Their job was standing by the stuff back behind the battle lines. Too much stuff requires too many guards, alert systems, high tech surveillance, watch dogs and insurance.     "And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword ... and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff." 1 Sam.25:13

When Jesus comes, don't bother with trying to save your stuff.       
"In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away...." Lk.17:31

Young married couples spend a debt fortune on "catch up stuff", their wedding  pictures and professional photos by the album full, financed house with all the furnishing, and kitchen conveniences. They start their lives together deep in educational debt, home mortgage debt,  two car loan debts, and several maxed credit card debts. All this stuff which they lusted after at first, soon becomes like a dead Albatross around their necks. So they give up and break up. But they finally manage to struggle their way through it, with a second or third spouse, and someone else's children to educate. They no longer need much of the stuff they divided between themselves and their previous spouses, but as they get old, their new lusts seem reasonable...by middle age..."Status" stuff like too large a custom home, big boat, travel trailer, motorcycles, and the ski slopes of Colorado. But even that grows old to them and finally they awaken in older old age with the extra large home and garage chock full of stored up old junk, and yesterday's dust covered stuff. They have an equal amount of dusty memories and dusty experience which only now stirs up a tinge of shinny new common sense. But, alas, a new problem which all old people awaken to. All this memorabilia stuff, all this once seemingly indispensable stuff has morphed into a gigantic trap to which they are chained and are too old and too weak to extricate themselves from moldy old, tarnished, worn and well stuffed stuff. But that's only half the problem. Now, with limited energy, they can't begin to maintain the large house full of outdated, and mostly never used, stuff. They can't keep the once beautiful lawn and flower beds. They are prisoners to a mountain of stuff ... way way way too much stuff.  

My final Christmas word to all our friends and family ... please be merciful to Bettie and me. We are too old to handle any more stuff. We are already buried under your generous gifts, birthday, anniversary, Christmas and love gifts. We have not a single shelf, counter top, closet, drawer, refrigerator, freezer, garage or barn empty space left. All future gifts will be placed in the front yard with a "For Sale" sign. It was fun while it lasted but gifts are now a burden ...so give it to Jesus; after all its His birthday. Bettie and I, in our late 80's, are now in the "get rid of it" mode and Jesus doesn't want it either.  Just give us love and patience, and if we have something you want ... please come and get it.