What It Says Is What It Means

Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Cilicia; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price. [2 Chronicles 1.14-16] 

Oh, to be rich and powerful and have lots of stuff!

Or, maybe not...

“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the LORD has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself. [Deuteronomy 17.16-17] 

For all Solomon's glory, the end of his life would not be so dazzling. The entire book of Ecclesiastes confirms this fact. Hmm, should we wonder why?

The inherent problem with "stuff" is the tendency to trust in it. Combined with outright disobedience to God's specific instructions, "stuff" is not a blessing but becomes a curse.

The more "stuff" we have, the more stuff we are liable to take care of. When "stuff" becomes this liability, it has lost its blessing and has become a curse. The irony of this is that the "stuff" we amass is originally intended to bring power, but instead uncovers a vulnerability that needs to be protected.

It should not surprise us that, historically speaking, great prosperity is accompanied by great industrialization. Industrialization is where idolatry takes root. Man's own ways and efforts (industrialization) to make life easier for himself become the mechanism of idolatry that enslaves him. Let's look at some examples of man's industrialization:

Finance offers the benefit of having something quickly, but enslaves us with lingering debt and interest payments.

Insurance offers the benefit of quick recovery from loss, but enslaves us with oppressive premiums.

Medicine offers the benefit of quick physical relief, but enslaves us with side-effects, addictions, and expensive repeating prescriptions.

Technology offers the benefit of convenience, but enslaves us with endless obsolescence guaranteeing the need for replacement. 

All of the examples above base their "benefits" on 1) man's fear of doing without those benefits or 2) is impatience with God to provide those benefits as needed otherwise.

Trusting in anything other than God is idolatry. Trusting in anything other than God is slavery.

Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

We should not be surprised that Jesus also said:

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. [John 8.36]

I lived six years in a third-world country. I can attest that some of the most carefree people I ever knew lived in poverty (by American standards). 

Building up wealth and protection like Solomon did was also deemed unnecessary when Jesus spoke on the topic:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.19-34]

What does this all say to us? What do we want this to say to us? What are we willing to acknowledge this all says to us?

What it says is what it means.

Father, may we find the courage to take our eyes off our stuff and instead look only to You. So be it.