Stuff, Things, and Friends

A man was once asked, “What is your purpose in life?”. He replied, “To get all I can, and “can” all I get”. That is not a new philosophy is it? It reminds me of a parable Jesus gave about the rich farmer that, instead of sharing the abundance of his current crop with others, said he would just build bigger barns so he could “can” all he had and keep it for himself.

What if you could back off far enough to see the entire “Time Line” of your life from the womb to the tomb? Would you see yourself as a person who spent the entire span of your life never being able to get enough “stuff and things?” Always trying to build bigger barns? Why do we work all our lives accumulating all this junk so when we die our kids will  just auction it off to the highest bidder?

Have you noticed that we always seem to channel our time, money, and talent toward the things we really love.

Do I love myself more than I love my wife?
Do I Iove myself more than I love my husband?
Do I love myself more than I love my children?
Do I love myself more than I love my parents?
Do I love myself more than I love my God?

John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man (or woman, or boy, or girl) lay down his life for his friends... (and all of the above should be our friends)...And you know what?   I don't think that means you have to die for them. I think it means you have to live for them. “Lay down” or “live out” our life for others...

Have you ever heard of a Nurse Tree?

Arizona is the home of the Saguaro. That is a large majestic cactus that stands in the desert with it's arms held up toward heaven. Often as you drive through that state, you will see one of those great plants growing right up through the middle of a small tree. That is a Nurse Tree.

At some point in time, a small bird, probably a Cactus Wren, flew into the tree carrying seeds that were dropped onto the ground beneath the branches, and a new Saguaro was born. The tree “nursed” that small seed into an adult Saguaro by providing shade from the harsh desert sun and sharing it's moisture and nutrients with the young plant. But in time there is a twist in fate. The tree that shared it's life nursing the cactus withers up and dies, giving it's life that the cactus may live.

Some day, just like the Nurse Tree, you and I will wither up and die. Will our memorial service be attended by a “Crowd of Witnesses” who are there because our love for others compelled us to nurture them by sharing our time, money, and talent, instead of building bigger barns?

The story of the rich farmer is found in the fifteenth chapter of Luke....And now “Here is the rest of the story”........... "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. (and their other friends)"

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE GATHER, BUT ABOUT WHAT WE SCATTER!