Jump Start # 3673

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.

Solomon faced a situation that so many of us encounter as we get older. What to do with all of our stuff. Stuff that we have collected for years. Stuff passed down through the family. Stuff that is so important to us.  But as our passage states, “I must leave it to the man who will come after me.” Why? Why, is because we die. Why is because we can’t take it with us. Why, because our journey comes to an end here. And, then all that stuff is gathered by the family, divided up, taken to Good-will or put out in the trash.

Study after study reveals that millennials do not want grandma’s fine china. They don’t the silver settings. They are not interested in collectables. They don’t want all the things that fill our shelves. The person coming after may be wise or he may be a fool. Who knows, Solomon wonders what will happen to all that stuff.

Now this brings us to some thoughts:

First, enjoy what you have but do not expect that others will get the same joy or even have any joy in what you have. Our children may feel burdened by all our stuff. If you have enjoyed collecting things through the years, that is the satisfaction you need to have. Personally, I have a museum of restoration history. Books. File cabinets stuffed with old bulletins and restoration info. Tons and tons of stuff. What will happen to it? Good question. I’ve enjoyed strolling down that lane of history. But, those who after me may not. That’s ok.

Second, Solomon didn’t know whether the person getting his things would be wise or a fool. Sometimes within the family, one will find both. Someone who appreciates things and someone else who just wants to sell it all, take the money and run. And, this brings us to an interesting concept of legacy. There have been several places that have talked about a legacy plan for the church. Who will be the next shepherds? Who will fill the pulpit years from now? But, even within the home, there is a concept of legacy. The one who follows may be wise or he may be a fool. Could it be that there ought to have been some teaching? Could it be that there should have been some sharing of values?

A legacy plan is built around the idea of teaching and mentoring others. Keeping the church going the right direction happens when those who follow understand and accept the same values. Showing others. Teaching others. Helping others. This is all part of developing an on going system of legacy. In business, in sports and in congregations, much too often, those that started things, were passionate about things. As the keys are handed over to another generation, there isn’t that same appreciation, passion and desire like the previous generation had. Things change, and not always for the better. Second and third generation of owners can change the philosophy and feel of a company. The same is true of a congregation. If what is being done is right, healthy and working, impress those values upon others. Don’t hand things over to fools. Raise and train others to be wise, thoughtful and careful.

Handing things over—Moses did to Joshua. Elijah did to Elisha. Jesus did to the apostles. And, as one generation nears the finish line, it is important that they hand things over to the next who follow. Leave things better than you found them, is an important principle to follow. Leave the congregation stronger than what you found it. Leave your family stronger than what you found it. Without guidance, instructions and examples, those who follow may be fools. And, they may be fools, because of our failure to help them become wise.

Third, we must not get so worked up about stuff. I know because I’ve been there. Stuffitis is easy to catch. But, after a few miles on the ole’ heart, one becomes less impressed with stuff and more interested in the things of value and substance, such as character, family, brethren. Walk through a local antique or thrift store. The shelves are lined with stuff. People are selling what they no longer want. They are hoping that you want what they don’t want.

As poor Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate, dying, he certainly didn’t have any stuff. He had no food. He had no shelter. He couldn’t even keep the dogs away. But he had a heart that impressed God. While just through the gates, died a rich man. He had closets full of clothes. He had pantries full of food. He had the finest and the best. An imaginary walk through his home would have impressed us. Fine art. Nice sculptures. Fountains out back. Immaculate landscaping. Just the best. He was surrounded with stuff. Lots of stuff. But his heart was empty. And, when he died, none of his stuff helped him and all of his stuff went to someone else.

Someone follows…they will get all your stuff. It really doesn’t matter. They may like it, keep it and cherish it, or they may junk it and trash it. What matters is what is in your heart. Surrounded by stuff, but empty on the inside is not a way to live. It’s better to be empty on the outside and filled with faith in the Lord on the inside.

Following us…may be wise people or fools. Something to think about.

Roger

Jump Start # 3461

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.”

Poor Solomon came to a conclusion that many senior citizens have seen in their lives. We spend a lifetime pursuing hobbies, collecting things that are precious and meaningful to us, only to realize that our children and grandchildren have little to no interest in those things. News article after article has shown that Millennials, Generations X and Z have no desire to hold on to grandma’s silverware. Boomers have a house full of stuff, often passed down from their parents that no one wants.

For Solomon, he developed gardens, parks, planted trees, made ponds, collected silver and gold and now he realizes the next generation may not have the same desire for these things as he did. In today’s world, the gardens would become apartments. The trees would be cut down and the space turned into a strip mall. The gold and silver sold at a pawnshop. A lifetime of collecting is disposed of just days after the funeral.

There are some realities that we must admit:

First, what is important to me, may only be important to me and to no one else. I have file cabinets stuffed with articles about Indiana restoration history, the early churches and the early preachers in this state. Someone suggests, you ought write a book about these things. There are already books written and who would read them, expect a few history buffs like myself. I’ve known people who spent a lifetime collecting stamps, coins, old hammers, quilts, license plates, spoons and what-nots that sit proudly on their shelves. What will happen to those things? Most likely, sold, trashed or given away. The collection will not stay collected. What is important to me, may only be important to me.

Second, if you have found enjoyment in collecting things then that was the value for you. Someone else sees clutter. Someone else thinks, ‘where will I store all these things?’ Don’t be upset if others don’t see the value or the joy that those things brought to you. Your kids don’t have the investment of finding, buying and collecting what you have. To them, it’s just stuff, or more bluntly, just junk. You have gotten joy out of putting that collection together.

Third, the most important thing that you can pass on to your family is the value of righteousness and godliness. Teaching your family to make wise decisions and to remain committed to the Lord is much more important than grandma’s cast iron skillet. The memories of love, joy and family is something that they will treasure the most.

Fourth, if you find a way to pass on your collection of treasures to someone else that will save your family a lot of heartache and trouble after you are gone. What to do with this stuff is a major question that comes up after the funeral. Who wants this stuff? No one has the heart to say, “Not me.” So, one person feels the guilt to take things home just because they meant a lot to mom.

There shouldn’t be that guilt. Solomon’s words are true. Someone comes after you. Those things now become their possession. What they do with it is their business. Once you release things and take your fingers off of them, they are no longer yours. The other person might keep those things, sell those things, give those things away or even trash them. It’s theirs. It is no longer yours.

We must remember the words of Jesus, “Life does not consist of possessions.” Don’t define yourself by what you have. Rather, it is who you are that makes the difference. Walk through any thrift store or antique mall, and you’ll see things that were common in your childhood. Now they sit on a shelf with a price tag on them. Most of those things will be sitting on those shelves for a long, long time.

Don’t allow clutter to clutter your thinking or your heart. It’s only stuff and you can’t take it with you. Enjoy it while you have and realize after you are gone, it’s no longer yours.

Roger