The Misery of Hording

"Bend my heart toward your instructions and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; with your ways, give me life." (Psalm 119:36-37)

When we butcher, it's hard work for us and a glorious libation of goodies for the dogs. What we do not eat (bones, sinew, fat, organs, etc) is fed to the dogs. In years past, we've had dogs that amiably share the windfall by dividing the spoils amongst themselves. However, we have one dog that is displaying the worst kind of selfishness and ruining the fun for all of them. Selah, the great pyrenees, has adopted the habit of collecting all the bloody blessings into one pile and fiercely guarding it. The other dogs circle her treasure trove, looking for an opportunity to snatch a bite. She spends all of her energy guarding her stock, so she never even gets the opportunity to enjoy what she's fought for. Absolutely nobody gets to enjoy the treats, so the pile eventually rots and must be tossed into the fire to be burned.

Seeing Selah laying down in front of her pile, staring with unblinking eyes at the other dogs (who stare at her with unblinking eyes as well), I cannot help but see a picture of the misery of selfishness. Instead of everyone having a little bit of joy, nobody gets any. That's the way that Selah would have it. She'd rather have the pleasure of knowing the pile is all hers than to part with some of it and eat the rest as her portion.

What we have has been given to us is not exclusively for our benefit. What we've been given is for sharing. Luke 12:48 says, "From him who has been given much, much will be demanded--from someone to whom people entrust much, they ask more." Paradoxically, forfeiting what we have is oftentimes a benefit to ourselves. When we make room for God to bless us, He is faithful to do so. When we stuff our lives full of our own pleasures, He cannot fit His awesome blessings into our life.

"A man approached Jesus and said, 'Rabbi, what good thing should I do in order to have eternal life?'...Jesus said to him, 'If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!' But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was wealthy." (Matthew 19:16&21-22)

The way to eternal life isn't giving everything away to people less fortunate. However, the man in this parable loved his riches more than he loved Jesus-- and Jesus knew it. This is why Jesus poked this man's sore spot--to give him an opportunity to forfeit what was really killing him to receive what he was dying for. We all, like the rich young ruler, have things that are hard to relinquish in order to follow hard after Christ. What's wrong with us? Don't we trust Him when He says that better things come to those who give up everything to follow Him?

"For whoever wants to save his own life will destroy it, but whoever destroys his life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will save it. Indeed, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? What could a person give in exchange for his life?" (Mark 8:35-37)