I remember seeing a bumper sticker in the early 1980s that said, “The one who dies with the most toys wins.” 

“Very funny,” I chuckled… until I asked myself a not-so-funny question — “wins what?” 

Is the pursuit and acquisition of worldly goods really what it’s all about? Is that our purpose in life? Is that what motivates us to work like a dog day and night?

Make no mistake, I am not criticizing anyone for having wealth, living in beautiful houses, driving expensive cars, wearing nice clothes, and going on exotic vacations. If anything, I’m reminding myself of how incredibly humbling it is for me (and dare I say most people reading this article) to have been so materially blessed.

And yet, in the midst of the Covid crisis, many of us have experienced a powerful wake-up call about the preciousness of human life and fleeting nature of accumulating stuff. People, not possessions, are to be treasured.

I recently visited the exquisite home of a Rockefeller heir. I couldn’t help but remember a quote by his ancestor, John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil Company (which later became Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Amoco and Marathon). When asked how much is enough, Rockefeller replied, “Just one dollar more.” When the richest man in America isn’t content with what he has, something is seriously wrong. This wealthy man risked becoming poor in the things that are most important.

Jesus said it best: “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns.” Jesus is warning us to not make idols of perishable possessions because they can never satisfy the deepest longing of our souls. The French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator.” Created things will never fill a God-sized need.

So, what are we to do with all our stuff? “To whom much is given, much is required,” according to Jesus. That means those of us who “have” are expected to help those who “have need.” It really is “more blessed to give than receive,” and we don’t have to look far to find ways of sharing our blessings with others less fortunate. I know I can do a better job of holding my stuff lightly.

Since we can’t take it with us, we might as well find joy in giving out of the abundance that God has given us, “…for what do we have that we did not first receive?” Could it be that the one who dies with the most joys (from giving) wins?

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Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Best Living at Scenic Loop magazine.