Not Much Left

I recently heard a sermon at church that left me pondering what my time on earth could look like, especially after I am no longer here. One of the phrases that was used that made the strongest impression on me was "not much left" and it was in the context of a family member who had passed away and didn't have many material goods to disperse to their descendants. What impacted me most was that this family member was so invested in the lives of other people for eternity's sake that what remained was just the bare essentials and some good books that could be passed on.

Ever since I heard these three little words, I've been thinking about what I want to leave behind. The idea of there not much being left seems like such a gift rather than having lots of material possessions that others have to organize and make decisions on. I touched on this thought a little earlier on when I wrote about how finding books is like going on a treasure hunt, but since that time, I've further reflected on how I want to have a lifestyle where I can pass on Christian books instead of hoarding them, particularly ones that will enrich other believers' thinking.

While having a library is a treasure of its own, I don't know that I want to have so many books on hand that I may or may not reference again in the long run. As a result, I've been more proactive about either donating or gifting books depending on their quality, and although the pace that I bring in books still exceeds the amount of books exiting my possession, I aim to make this a goal for myself this year where I can give books a new home.

I don't want to saddle anyone down with an out-of-control library, so I'm hoping that I can be more mindful in what I accumulate while being generous towards others with them. I'm quite excited about the prospect of whittling down my TBR books in order to joyfully pass them along; this is likely the greatest incentive I have in going through the books on my shelves. It'll definitely take me some time, but one of the things I'm changing about how I read this year is to focus more on the backlist titles I've collected so that I'm not just storing them. Part of the stewardship I wish to undertake is to responsibly use what God has given me, and I'm so grateful that I get to be in this position in the first place.

I suppose this is similar to the concept of "die with zero" but my motivation is much more spiritual than purely financial. I also want to take the following verses to heart because the treasure is not just bound up in pages and spines; it's bound up in Who the words on the pages point toward. What a thrilling prospect ahead for me this year!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21