Living Beyond Sunday – Clutter Series– Is Your Clutter Keeping You From Experiencing God?
(The Solution)
In our ongoing conversation about Clutter, let’s try to draw a Solution today.
God is a God of created order. Everything He created has a place and a purpose.
Jesus had a conversation with a rich man who had a lot of stuff. This stuff had become a problem for him, so much, that Jesus asked him to sell it all and give the money to the poor.
As Christ Followers we are supposed to be light in a dark world.
We are told in Romans 12:2 to stop copying the behaviors and customs of this world. If we are to live in peace and spread the peace that surpasses all understanding, something has to be done with all the clutter.
If an unexpected guest walked into your home, your office, your garage, or maybe rode in your car – would they experience peace or be overwhelmed by the clutter? What about if I could roam around your mind? Would I experience peace or is your mind so filled with chaos that there is no room for eternal thoughts?
The rich young ruler had a problem. His stuff was in his way of having a personal relationship with Jesus. He had to make a choice. Jesus or his stuff. He chose his STUFF. WHAT? Yes he chose his stuff. Prior to this verse, Jesus told this young man to de-clutter his life”. Then Mark 10:22 says this:
“But at these words [g]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”
You may be saying to yourself that you would never let this happen. You also may be saying that there is no way you would choose your stuff instead of Jesus. Would your behavior match up with your profession?
Do you spend more time with your stuff or God?
Do you worrying about taking care of your stuff or concentrating on your relationship with God?
Are you filled with guilt because you have stuff that doesn’t get used?
Do you have a debt for stuff that you don’t even own anymore?
Do you have consumer debt keep you from being generous?
Clutter in our lives becomes a form of slavery. Jesus provides a way out for all us. Freedom is what he offers and what he died for. He offered the Rich Young Ruler freedom but he chose slavery instead.
There are some steps to take if you want to declutter and refocus your life on the depth of your relationship with God.
Repent of your love of this world and the temporary things it offers.
Dedicate real time to getting rid of anything you haven’t used in the last year – give it away to a local church thrift store and let them turn it into money for missions.
Organize the things you keep. Ownership requires stewardship.
Ask the Lord for peace and help to eliminate the clutter in our minds:
Watching less TV and reading the bible more
Praying more and looking at less social media
Forgive others right away – bitterness clutter is the worst
Share your story with others that need to declutter too.
Clutter in our closets, our homes, our garages, and our desks is just an outward symptom of a mind mis-focused. Declutter your mind and watch the clutter in your life lose hold on you! He came to set us free.
Galatians 5:1(NASB) 5 [a]
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
About the Author, Jim Brangenberg
Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!