This year at MOPS, we are exploring what it means to live Free Indeed! At tomorrow's meeting, we'll be hearing from Stephanie Colson, from
Sweet and Neat Organizing, about how to better organize our homes and routines.
In that same spirit, I'd like to share a short devotional from MOPS International:
Clutter Free Living
We put our house on the market recently. You know what that
means, it’s time to go through every closet and cupboard with
a fine-tooth comb and eliminate clutter. Not easy for a family of
seven, but when the lockbox appears on the front door, we all
know the drill.
We scale back and stash away our stuff for this season of selling.
I’ve even heard of people renting storage pods where they can
throw all of their excess belongings into.
Between you and me, I have no problem telling other people what
to pare down or purge. I can easily spot a tennis racquet that
hasn’t been lifted in years or a board game that has never been
played. Getting ready for this move, I was incredibly quick to rifle
right through my husband’s closet and eliminate his unnecessary
items. But it’s always harder when it comes to my own things.
Truth be told: I treasure my stuff.
In Mark 10, there’s a rich, young ruler who asks Jesus what he
must do to enter the kingdom of heaven and Jesus answers him:
Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. I always thought that story didn’t really apply
to me – I’m not rich or young or anywhere close to a ruler. So
maybe the words of Jesus aren’t for me.
Except, they are.
Jesus is speaking about the things we hold on to – the things
which distract us and keep us from going deep with him. When
we’re told we have to eliminate some of our stuff, we figure out
quickly what we truly treasure.
Why did Jesus tell him to sell all of his possessions? Just before
Jesus gives the young man his answer, Mark writes, Looking at
him, Jesus felt a love for him. Jesus instructs the ruler to get rid of
his stuff because he loved him. He knew it was best for this guy
to remove what was standing in the way of eternity. Though God
provides abundantly, he doesn’t want our belongings to compete
with the longing of our heart for him.
Why? Because he loves us.
