December 15, 2022

We credit the late uber-rich tycoon, Malcolm Forbes, with being the first to say, “He who dies with the most toys, wins.” Those words are catchy. And they’ve made their way onto lots of car bumpers and T-shirts over the thirty years since Forbes made it memorable.

But even when they were first spoken, lots of us recoiled at the naked materialism behind those words.

We instinctively knew that the corollary to Forbes comment is also true (“He who dies with the most toys, still dies.”), and that life consists of more than toys. Life is more than stuff. Intangibles like relationships and thoughtfulness, creativity and integrity are weightier than our toys.

For the Christian, add on top of all those things the even greater wealth that comes from following Jesus into a life of worship, love, commitment to a transcendent cause, and generosity.

These are the elements of true wealth. They (and we could add a few other items) make up a meaningful life and are infinitely more important than our material possessions.

So, yes, Forbes’ line is catchy. But it’s catchy like flypaper.

If we refuse to reject the accumulation of things as a life goal, it’ll ensnare us. We’ll become trapped by the things we collect and will be possessed by what we supposedly own. While material stuff isn’t inherently bad, material-ISM will choke out the more valuable but more fragile values that last.

Sadly, while we all know the ultimate vanity of toy accumulation, we may still be tempted to follow Malcolm Forbes’ foolish wisdom.

So how are we to avoid the trap of materialism in an age and in a culture that obsesses over stuff? How can we learn to model Jesus’ radical kingdom values to friends who are drowning in the accumulation of things that don’t provide the meaning and purpose they need?

It is here that a turn to examine the life of Jesus is the turn we need to take.

Consider the end of Jesus’ life on what we call Good Friday. Notice that He had not accumulated any things over His lifetime. No stuff. No toys. In fact, no possessions at all, except for a seamless tunic that was gambled away by bored soldiers at the foot of the cross.

Then consider His life’s start at Christmas. He was born into a poor family. That family lived among an oppressed people. Jesus grew up in abject poverty in Nazareth.

There. We have just observed that Jesus both came to earth with no belongings and that He left with none. The first reasonable response to such an observation is worship.

Think of it.

The eternal Son of God traded glory for pain and suffering. He left perfect harmony with the Father and the Spirit for a life of conflict and rejection. Having created everything, He was owner of all, and set that “all” aside to give Himself away.

“Hallelujah, what a Savior!” indeed.

We are drawn to worship this Jesus who gave Himself in every way – for us. But, in addition to worship, there is a very real discipleship response to the anti-materialistic life of Jesus.

He, the consummate Giver, gave all. And in giving, has given us an example that we are to follow.

Dying with the most toys possible is not a win. And a radical imitation of Jesus will consist of taking steps away from Mr. Forbes’ life-sucking motto.

We can follow Jesus by deciding to say…

…“No” today to a material gain that will damage a relationship.

…“Yes” today to generosity to someone in need who will never be able to pay us back.

…“No” today to the purchase of something we don’t really need.

…“Yes” today to an investment of our riches (pennies, seconds, calories) in serving Jesus.

The collection of toys continues to mark our age. But Jesus shows us a better way.

Nobody lived with more purpose, meaning and joy than Jesus did, the One who died with zero wealth. He endured the sufferings of His earthly life for our gain. But – and let’s not miss this – He also endured those deprivations for His own gain. As Hebrews assures us, He has now [12:2] sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the same way, our repudiation of the way of toy collection for His kingdom’s sake lays up [Matthew 6:20] treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.

Toys or treasure? The choice is obvious.

Yours…His,

Dave