We don’t have a lot of clutter in our house. Why? We don’t have it because we don’t purchase it in the first place.
Marie Kondo has started a de-cluttering movement, which is not in itself a bad thing. However, we need to go a step further and deal with the root cause of our clutter problems. We need to stop impulsively buying things that we do not need only to throw them out. It is sinful of waste our God-given provision to squander our resources on things that don’t matter and are not necessary. Just like what we talked about before, we have greedy hearts and we cannot give into them for even a moment (because then all they want is more).
As Christians, we are called to live kingdom-focused lives. We are called to live with intentionality–like Jesus could come back at any time (1 Thess. 5:1-11). We are not supposed to amass earthly treasures for ourselves, but rather, deploy our resources to build Jesus’ kingdom.
“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (v. 19-21)
Jesus didn’t mince his words. If we are obsessed over earthly goodies, then we have not properly surrendered our hearts to God. Tough, right?
However, take heart. If we do not obsessed about things that rust and fall apart, we will no longer feel upset about how temperamental earthly things are (even when your kiddos carelessly destroy your favorite decor 😉 ) nor anxious about procuring more things. In short, we can just revel in God’s provision contently– just like Jesus told us to.
“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today andthrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you — you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (v. 25-34)
So let’s stop cluttering our houses and minds with junk like mounds of blankets and worry. Instead, let’s rely upon God’s perfect provision for our daily missions and use the savings to intentionally store up riches in heaven.
But what should we do with clutter? DO NOT thank your old shoes for their service (as Marie Kondo teaches)! Thank the God who provided you with the shoes (or repent from buying them in the first place if they were a waste of resources). Then donate things to the needy that are still in good shape; discard things in poor repair. God can still be glorified with our old junk, just like how God repurposes old sinners for His glory 🙂
What are your thoughts/reactions? Share your feedback in the comments section below!
Industrious & Godly 