Which is More Important?

I don't know how many times I asked my kids "Which is more important, your brother/sister or your stuff?" I would guess in the millions, but that may be an exaggeration. After the first few thousand, I began to wonder if they needed to hear it as much as I did. Once I placed the $.50 ruler in one hand and their precious sibling in front of the other, and asked them which is more important? They always looked sheepish, and answered, "my sister/brother." It seems so obvious when you put it like that.

I reminded them, and myself, many times that these people around us, that mess with our stuff, are all going to heaven with us, the stuff isn't. Sometimes I wonder at what comes out of my mouth. Where did that come from? I had never really thought of it until I pointed it out to one of the kids. All this stuff that we get so fussed up about is staying right here. It will become outdated, broken, rusty, and will mean nothing to us in about week probably, but we still say ugly things to the person who has it at this moment, because we want it. Coveting is very powerful. It causes us to forget about the preciousness of the people around us, and want to run over them to take away whatever it is that they have.

It was so good for all of us to take the time to stop and consider the needs and desires of someone else. We were able to take our need to share our personal resources of markers, and match box cars, and think on a bigger scale about sharing our resources of food and money. Why, for example, should we Americans get all fussed up because China wants to buy grain and cars too? Are they taking something that we think we deserve? Why do we deserve it?

It has made me think about my attitude towards my neighbors. I need to remember that they are all made in God's image, and that I am called to love them. My stuff is a gracious gift for me to enjoy and to share. If someone seems to need, or even want my stuff, I should be prepared to say "be my guest." I need to repent of my material girlishness, and have a more open hand. Thank God that he delights to teach us so many lessons through our precious children.