Jesus did not mean to say that we should not possess anything. What He meant was that those possessions are not to become so important that they take possession of us and rule our lives.
We may, in fact, think that we are not possessed by any of our possessions. We may be proud of ourselves in thinking that we have risen above the fray and have managed to put the things we own in proper perspective. But think for just a minute. How often during the day do you look at your cell phone to check for any messages that may have been sent your way. How often do you find yourself texting a message immediately upon reception thus taking up time when that moment may have been used for something more meaningful.
How much time do you spend on social networking applications such as Facebook and Twitter? How much time do you spend in front of the television mindlessly watching something that you really have no interest in and something which does not lead us to a closer relationship with God?
Have you ever tried a media fast? Have you ever tried to abstain from the use of one form of media for a length of time in order to give that time over to the Lord? Have you turned off the TV for more than the overnight hours? Have you ever gotten into the car in the morning to go to work without tuning in your favorite radio station or making sure that it is already set to that station?
Perhaps it is time for a media fast to check to see just how close we are to the Lord and also to see just how much time our gadgets take up in our lives. I think you will be amazed at how much time we spend with the modern conveniences of our lives.
It is important to do these things, to grow closer to Jesus Himself, because as the end of this particular gospel states, it may just be possible that "this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom do they belong?" (Lk 12: 21)
