Lillian Daniel: You Don't Need More Storage Space

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." - Matthew 6:19 

New York Times article about the demand for expensive condos in Manhattan explained: "Seemingly every week prices reach new heights-the latest is a triplex penthouse on Park Avenue that is listed for $130 million-and bidding wars have become so common as to be unexceptional." Yet, some market experts predict that the tide will turn. If too many luxury apartments are built, there may not be enough buyers willing to pay for them.

That prompted one developer, Adam Gordon, to shift his focus. Rather than developing luxury dwellings, he's chosen to take an 11-story building on 61st Street and convert it into a luxury storage facility.

According to the Self Storage Association, there are 2.3 billion square feet of self-storage space in the U.S. Outside towns, on highways, those warehouses are ubiquitous. Storage pods get loaded up in people's driveways when they are trying to sell their houses. They have to hide all their junk to entice a buyer. But luxury storage space in the priciest real estate market of Manhattan? Who knew?

If you put your stuff in a storage facility, and you find that you can live without it, maybe you really can live without it. So here's a radical thought from Jesus: Don't store it in the first place.

Because somewhere in the world, there is a person who really needs the thing that you are about to lock away in a box.

Sell it. Swap it. Share it. Give it away.

You don't need more storage. You need less stuff.

Prayer

Giving God, if I clear out my basement will you clear out my heart? I think I'm ready to have more by having less.

 

From UCC's StillSpeaking devotionals