The Abundance That Keeps You Awake

Owning things seems simple until you own a lot of them. Then there is more to maintain, more to insure, more to protect, more to worry about. At some point what you own starts owning you.

Solomon noticed this. “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?” More stuff means more mouths, more costs, more upkeep.

Then he makes an observation that still rings true: “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” The worker with little goes home and sleeps. The man with much lies awake guarding it.

Having more isn’t a sin. But it is worth asking whether your possessions are serving you, or you them. Sometimes freedom looks like less.