Its Only Stuff The Theology of Possessions The Rev. Dr. Rick Young - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

It’s Only Stuff… The Theology of Possessions

The Rev. Dr. Rick Young President & CEO, Texas Presbyterian Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

Why is this important? Why now? Because…

1960 = 0 2018 = 52,000 and growing rapidly

2.4 billion square feet Nine square feet for every person in U.S.

1960 1,300 sq. ft.

1960 1,300 sq. ft.

2018 2,600 sq. ft.

Increasing by 10 – 15% annually

Less than 25% of garages in U.S. homes are used for their intended purpose—that of storing a car.

POSSESSIONS PROVIDE…

United States consumers spent $2.6 Trillion on non-durable goods in 2017. Spent $600 Billion on recreational goods. Annual growth of U.S. consumer expenditures increasing by 3.9% annually.

Emotions associated with getting rid of stuff

Relief Grief Anger Loss of Control Sadness Joy

Greatest Generation

“Waste not, want not”

• Did not have credit

cards or credit, bought things only when needed and cash was available

• Gave up possessions

for the common good

• Avid supporters of

causes that helped greater number

• Major sources of

news—newspapers and radio

1930 - 1946

Baby Boomers

“Keeping Up With The Joneses”

• Easier credit

available

• Richest generation
• Where I live and

how much I possess tells others who I am

• Last of the major

collectors of stuff

1946 – 1964

Generations X & Y

“Who are we? We are not like them!”

• Sandwich generation
• Least wealthy of all

generations

• Many were latchkey

kids with both parents working

• High

unemployment/unde remployment weary

• Recession hit hard

and many have still not recovered

1965 - 1982

Millennials

“Prefer Experience Over Possessions”

• Wealthier than X &

Y, but not as wealthy as Boomers

• Debt is an enemy

and do not want to go further in debt

• Heavy school debt
• Little desire for
• wnership of

possessions/homes

• Often seen as

minimalists

1982 - 2004

Scripture Texts Which Might Be Used As Bible Study

.

Matthew 6:19-21 Luke 16:19-31 Proverbs 3:9-10 Luke 12:42-46 Matthew 19:24 I Peter 1:18-19 Romans 8:25-39 John 14:1-31 John 15:1-27 Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 Exodus 32:1-33:23

Do you control your possessions or do your possessions control you? What is your most valuable possession and why? If you only had thirty minutes to go through your home and pick possessions that you have to keep, what would they be? Do your possessions define you or do you define your possessions?

1. The Steward: A Biblical symbol come

• f age, revised edition, Douglas John

Hall, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2004 2. Money Enough: Everyday Practices for Living Faithfully in the Global Economy, Doug Hicks, Jossey-Bass, 2010 3. Enough: True Measures of Money, Value, and Life, John C. (Jack) Bogle 4. Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace, Miroslav Volf, Zondervan, 2005 5. Wealth in Families, Second Edition, Charles W. Collier, Harvard Press 6. An Other Kingdom, Departing the Consumer Culture, Peter Block, Walter Brueggemann, John McKnight, John Wiley and Sons Publishers, 2016

Resources

What do I do with all my stuff,

• r even someone else’s stuff?
• Goodwill, Salvation Army, veterans associations
• Estate sale
• Museums or Art Galleries
• Ebay or online websites
• Classified ads
• Family, friends, others
• Sotheby or other high end dealer
• The church
• 1 800 Got Junk
• Trash

For questions or more information: Rick ick Yo Young President & CEO 214-522-3155 rick.young@tpf.org

Thank You

For questions or more information:

The The Re Rev. . Dr, r, Ric Rick You

• ung

President & CEO 214-522-3155 rick.young@tpf.org