Why hearses don’t have U-Hauls and significance during your life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
“17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Have you ever been to The Global Rich List“? Someone who takes home $12k/yr is in the top 15% of the world richest people. Think about that. In a world where people still make $1/day, we’re debating a living wage level that puts people in the top 15% of the world wage earners. What are we spending the money on? Where does it all go?

When we die, what happens to all our stuff? I read of people who are buried with their stuff so they can take it with them. That implies a view of heaven that baffles me. “I’m gonna drive my Bentley/Harley/Lambo/ in heaven and….” And what? Impress God? Absolutely baffling.

So, if we can’t take it with us, what happens to it? Kids and creditors fight over it? We don’t care, not out problem, etc. But what about the corollary consequences? Resources are finite, both spiritual and physical, and there’s only so much to go around. As we’re accumulating for our comfort, convenience and pride, what about the 4th generation single intercity mother who can’t get out of the trap she’s in? Do you feel a connection? How about a laborer in Ghana who makes $0.08/hr? Feel a connection there? How about the young girl from India who’s sold into the sex trade? Feel a connection there?

I’m guilty of squandering the resources I’ve been blessed with, absolutely. I’m working at getting out from under it, but I don’t know if I have enough years left to get to my goal if 90/10 – leverage 90% of my income to help others and live on 10%. To much history I need to clean up. Maybe.

So, the question of significance. I like the question “Are you living for your resume or your epitaph?” It says it all. What do you want on your tombstone? “Here lies Blah Blah who left a bunch of stuff behind but didn’t do much else but take care of him/herself though they were very successful at it” or “Here lies Blah Blah who used their success to make a difference, who worked tirelessly to help and serve others less fortunate”? What are you writing with your life? Another way to look at it is to ask what would the single intercity mom, the laborer in Ghana or the young girl sold into the sex trade write?

What Would Jesus Think? About your life? About how you live? About how you treat the resources you’ve been blessed with? If Christ were in your shoes (and of course He could is), what would he do?

Thorny questions that go to the very root of economic and social justice.

Take hold of life that is truly life. Lay up treasures that will “impress” God by their sacrificial nature. Christ commands us to live a life of significance, to honor and glorify Him in all we do.

What game is your head in?