Recently, our apartment complex renovated the kitchen and bathrooms. That meant we had to get everything out of everywhere, move completely out of those spaces. And I hate moving. Mostly because it forces you to see how much stuff you've accumulated. It sickens me to see!
When I moved to Hawaii, I had two suitcases. That's it! Granted, I had left my childhood memories, amongst other things, in my parents barn, but still! Moving from Hawaii to Illinois, we have 5 huge CRATES! Owning that much junk makes me feel... gross. I tossed or donated about 2 crates worth of stuff to charity.
After reading The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, it inspired me to chuck even more in an effort to simplify my life. I thought that if I simplify everything on the outside, get rid of the excess stimuli then all the internal jumble can calm down so I can create. My parents and the Mr. complain because I have not painted in forever. I find that when I'm stressed, I can't paint. So, that's my theory- eliminate the external craziness and the art can come out. Sounds good in theory, right?
So, when we had to empty our cabinets, you guessed it, even more junk was outta here! Which made me think, what does God have to say about Christians living in excess? I mean, there's things you need, like have to have to survive. There's little extras you buy to make life a little easier. And then there's just plain excess- things that you absolutely do not need, like at all, and you buy anyway. Which is a waste of money, and God doesn't like that. He says we are to be good stewards of the money he entrusts with us. So that's one strike with buying in excess. And then there's the saying I've always heard, "Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without," strike two. So, I went digging in the bible for hard truths.
+ 1 John 2:16-17- 16- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
+ 1 Timothy 6:9-10- 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
+ Ecclesiastes 6:9- Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
+ Ecclesiastes 5:10-11- Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
+ Luke 12:15- Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
+ Colossians 3:2-3- 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
+ Proverbs 11:28- Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
+ Psalm 119:36-37- Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
So, with all these scriptures telling us NOT to worry about being selfish, how are we to make it in this world? This day in age when EVERYTHING is about making more money so you can buy more things so more people can think you are awesome?
+ 1 Timothy 6:6-8- 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Be content with that! God brought us into the world with nothing, and he will take us out of the world with nothing. I believe if we work hard at pleasing Him, studying His word, your life will be fulfilling without all the excess junk, but that's just my two cents.
