“Honey,” Jim called to her as he entered the computer room, clutching the checkbook. “Why all these debit purchases in one day?”

“Lindsay and I went to the outlet mall on our way home from the women’s retreat. I got some great deals.”

“Your great deals added up to almost five hundred bucks.”

“Most of it was for the kids—school clothes, winter items. If you knew what I would have paid in a regular store . . .”

Jim sank into a chair. “I don’t care, honey. We have enough stuff in this house to clothe a small village. Have you seen our credit card statement?”

“What do you mean? Last month I only . . .” Before she could finish, Jim held out the statement. Had she really spent that much?

With no words to justify her spending, she moved the computer mouse to her shopping cart and emptied it.

A popular 1980s bumper sticker claimed, “Whoever has the most toys wins.” Those who bought into it would probably say they won debt, strained relationships, and daily stress to their lives. Jesus told a parable about a rich landowner who accumulated more grain than he knew what to do with, only to die and leave his wealth behind. What do we gain by buying more than our closets can hold? Then again, how much more do we benefit from hungering after the true riches of God?