Considering stewardship and personal accumulation

 Luke 3:10-11 

"And the people asked him [John the Baptist], saying, What shall we do then?

"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

John tells them to be generous. He tells them to give away excess possessions; to start decluttering and giving, and to simplify, so that others will have what they need.

Notice that this is more than just one of ten shirts, it's one of two. There is some personal sacrifice involved in order to bless someone else.

Later, in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, 12-15, Paul writes about such generosity, and about the consideration that is part of the determination as to how much to give to others in need:

"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

"For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

"As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."

It seems to be a choosing to provide instead of to simply accumulate.  It is providing resources and tools where they may be needed instead of accumulating them.

How to personally decide a wise way to do that?  In chapter 9: 7-8, he writes 

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

"And God is able to make all grace (His ready willingness to help) abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

The decision is made personally and freely with your heart, implying personal counsel with the Lord as to the wise use, or the making available, of those extra things with which he has blessed us. It is about our personal stewardship

This isn't tithing. This is free-will, generosity; contributions of items or assets (to individuals or to organizations that provide access to things that others are in need of) that is inspired by personal revelation that we receive as we counsel with the Lord about the divine stewardship over the things (stuff) we have have acquired or that we have individually been given.

The challenge, in this modern age, is to avoid using our stewardship to acquire and keep extra things, and, also, when we find that we have done so, (it's part of our consumer culture) to actually take the time to seek revelation as to what are the ways to provide those things to others in need, in order to bless.

A sobering study.

 The effect of cell phones on memory and cognition

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462

The abstract from the report on this study:

Abstract

Our smartphones enable—and encourage—constant connection to information, entertainment, and each other. They put the world at our fingertips, and rarely leave our sides. Although these devices have immense potential to improve welfare, their persistent presence may come at a cognitive cost. In this research, we test the “brain drain” hypothesis that the mere presence of one’s own smartphone may occupy limited-capacity cognitive resources, thereby leaving fewer resources available for other tasks and undercutting cognitive performance. Results from two experiments indicate that even when people are successful at maintaining sustained attention—as when avoiding the temptation to check their phones—the mere presence of these devices reduces available cognitive capacity. Moreover, these cognitive costs are highest for those highest in smartphone dependence. We conclude by discussing the practical implications of this smartphone-induced brain drain for consumer decision-making and consumer welfare.

The whole report is definitely worth reading.

And those who keep their second estate…. (Abraham 3:26)

 Websters 1820 dictionary has multiple pertinent examples of the meaning of the word "keep", of course.

This use of the word in the book of Genesis struck me:

"And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it." Genesis 2:15.

Here, in this verse, keeping the garden meant taking care of it, helping it to flourish.

Keeping can also mean diligence in the tasks one is given: "There were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night".

It can also mean protecting, as a goal keeper helps his teammates to prevail as he prevents the opposition from kicking the soccer ball into the goal he guards.

So today, with those meanings in my mind, I am thinking about what "keeping" this second estate means. Not just asking myself if I am personally "obeying, or 'keeping' the commandments", but instead...

Am I responding and/or caring for others; to help them to flourish and to bloom?

Am I diligent and committed to God's work and the watchcare over others and their needs that He has given me to do?

Am I acting on the responsibility given to me to assist other disciples who depend upon me in our mutual work of faith and hope towards God and charity towards others, and doing so both by

a) seeking to prevent damage by those who, with hate or fear or insecurity in their hearts, actively fight against that work

and also by

b) assisting my fellow disciples in our mutual efforts to be engaged, together, in the work He has given us to do?

Good for me to consider today.