You Collect What!? (Matthew 6:19-24)

Do you know James M. Cox? That's okay; most people don't. In 1920, he campaigned as a Democrat to become President of the United States. Since his lat name was Cox, his campaign symbol was a rooster. He made clever lapel buttons that said, "I will crow in November." He didn't make very many, so he lost. His running mate ended up being elected though . . . four times.

The button there on the left? I own it. In fact, I have lots of campaign buttons. About 500 to be exact. Most of them are from the year 1968 and 2008. It is a nice collection, and I used to like showing it off. Now it is an embarrassment.

This collection is now a reminder. While some are looking to survive, I am collecting and displaying small bits of metal and plastic. I would pay anywhere from $10-$30 for a pin, which most people in the world won't make in a week. The pins are stored neatly in a clean, temperature controlled room in our basement, though many people are homeless. "I own a piece of history," I'd often tell myself, "It's a good investment." In many parts of the world, political strife and oppression are killing innocent people. The truth is that my collection is a stumbling block. It begs the question, "Where is my heart?"

I've decided to give it away. Actually, I'm going to sell it and donate the money. A lot of people will read this and think, "Awww, how sweet." Nothing could be further from the truth! I have sacrificed nothing for the sake of others. This collection is not a necessity, but a luxury.

Have you ever seen Schindler's List? The film is set in World War II Germany. Oskar Schindler runs a munitions plant for the Nazis with Jewish labor. As he witnesses the atrocities the Jews suffer at the hands of the Nazis, he diverts his fortune to saving as many Jews as he can by arguing that they are essential to the war effort. Near the end of the film, the workers give him a gold ring made from their dental fillings and express gratitude for what he had done to save them. Schindler's response? He is ashamed. He looks at his car, and even his Nazi pin, and considers how many more lives he could have saved.

How much is enough? Who do we really serve?