There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles for the wind? Ecclesiastes 5:13-16 HCSB
When Debbie and I were looking for a home in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, we went to see a home where a lady lived who was a hoarder. Every room was filled with different items. She had Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, clothes in the closets, clothes on the bed and even clothes on the chairs. Obviously, we could not really see the house for all of the “stuff” she was hoarding.
Solomon recognized the dangers of hoarding. He referred to it as a sickening tragedy. Someone who attains wealth and just holds on to it and pursues getting even more is a hoarder. Jesus provided the same warning when He told the parable of the rich fool who built larger barns to store his possessions and then thought he would take it easy and enjoy life. Suddenly that very night the man died and did not benefit from any of his hoarding of possessions.
I have heard it said, “You can’t take it with you”. There are no trailers behind a hearse. Accumulating more and more does not accomplish anything. If God has blessed a person with many possessions, he should look for ways to bless others.
Challenge: The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Look for ways to use the many blessings God has provided to be a blessing to others. Try paying for the person’s meal who is in the drive-thru lane behind you or do some other unexpected blessing for someone today. Watch the video “Trailers Behind the Hearse” at http://www.stewardshipministries.org/chet-and-diana-stewart-trailers-behind-the-hearse/