Do not hold anything too tightly. Being overly concerned that material goods will be lost, stolen, damaged, or scuffed often distracts you from your ability to care for others. It would be better to get rid of anything you are too attached to, especially if it is preventing you from fully loving your neighbors. Does your fondness for a book prevent you from loaning it out? Does your attachment to furniture or carpeting prevent you from inviting certain people to your home? Examine your heart for areas where materialism may be hindering your ability to fulfill the Lord’s command to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15 NIV).If someone does inadvertently damage or lose a valuable that belongs to you, resist the urge to react too strongly. No possession is worth destroying a relationship. Whether your friend breaks your expensive vase, your son’s car leaks oil all over your new driveway, or your grandchild wets the bed in your master bedroom, maintain love. Keep in mind that all of your possessions, in truth, belong to God, not to you.