Spiritual Lessons Learned from Moving to a New Country, Part 2: You Can't Take it With You

The Eyes of Man are Never Satisfied

It might be argued that rampant materialism has been the downfall of the U.S. economy. The bankers, in collusion with the government, have made it extraordinarily easy to "own" things on credit -- cars, homes, and even education can be "purchased" on credit. Never mind that the actual cost of ownership is many times the cost of the original item. Consumerism has made us debt slaves, serfs in neo-feudalism.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. -- Proverbs 22:7

The accumulation of "stuff" is judged to make one happy and is the measure of success in society. It's true that many things have intrinsic value in this life because they serve a useful purpose. A hammer, for example, is essential to a carpenter. Other things only have subjective value to the possessor. Books, for example. But I believe it is safe to say that, in general, we spend money on things we don't need and sometimes can't even afford. Why? It's human nature.

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. -- Proverbs 27:20

Now, it is good to enjoy the benefits of our work.

[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God. -- Ecclesiastes 2:24

But Solomon says even this is "vanity" (Ecc 2:1). Consumerism for the sake of consuming is the process by which people are drained of both wealth and soul. And for what, exactly? More stuff.

We Will Leave this World with Nothing

During our preparation for the move, we realized just how much stuff we had that was of no value to us whatsoever. When the time came to pack up and leave, there was only a limited number of things we could take on the airplane and the rest had to find another home. The options were give-away, sell, throw-away, or storage -- and we used all four.

The idea that "you can't take it with you" sprang to mind. In this way, the move becomes like dying: We come into this world with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing.

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. -- Ecclesiastes 5:15

Moving has given us a different perspective on material wealth. After literally laboring under the weight of our stuff for many weeks, we are now a lot more careful about the things we add to our household inventory. "Do we really need this?" is now a recurring question. We can have the rest of our personal possessions brought here on a ship, but what will happen to all of that stuff some day? I may die and leave it to someone else,

... wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. -- Psalms 49:10

but in the end, it will all burn away:

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ... -- 2 Peter 3:12

What's the Point of it All?

Mankind has a tendency to believe that things will persist for ever, but both the thought and the fact is incorrect.

Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names. ... This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. -- Psalms 49:11,13

I love my guitar. But both it and the music I record will be gone some day. My computer is essential to my work and I get the best one I can afford. But both it and my work will be gone some day. In the new earth, no one will talk about great business transactions or all the things they accumulated. How should we be behave, then? What is the purpose?

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: -- Matthew 6:19,20

For Those that Don't Believe

If you do not believe in "heavenly treasures" and are not acquainted with the Son of God, but you find emptiness in "things" and struggle with the purpose of life, then I would encourage you to pick up the Bible and see what's inside. Start with Psalm 49, then check out Philippians 4:11, Matthew 6:25-34 and all of Ecclesiastes, taking note of the sum-up in chapter 12.