Captive by Clutter

We could learn a few life lessons from the modernist ethic of design. Less is more. Too much is just that – too much. I’ve been cleaning out and paring down a few things around the house. I have been held captive by clutter for too long. Maybe you can relate. If you don’t need it, toss it. Keep what makes your heart sing and get rid of everything else.

Too many coffee mugs. Gone.
Too many camp shirts. Gone.
Unnecessary paperwork. Gone.
Outdated college textbooks. Gone.
Too many pictures on the wall. Gone.
Grandma’s old china cabinet. Yes, I got rid of it too.

I’m still working at it.

Paring down has come with some put-downs, but I’ve spent too long chasing after more when less is really what I need.

And I’m not just talking about fewer trinkets and furniture pieces.

What if we lived life with the same philosophy?

“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4: 6

Less is more.

After asking God for wisdom, King Solomon became the wisest man in the world. He is a man worth listening to! But even he failed to keep God at the center of his life. Solomon’s writings in Ecclesiastes warn us that no one else and nothing else can fill the empty spaces of our hearts. There is a place for work, play and the people in our lives, but they cannot take the place of God or take our focus off God.

Let’s think about those two hands full of toil and striving. What have we picked up that keeps us hanging on with both hands? Afraid to let go. Afraid that we may not have enough, be enough or know enough.

At some point, we’ve bought into the lie that more is more. More work, more play, more stuff, more… everything. I’m not saying to live life empty-handed. God expects us to work. And he wants us to build relationships and to enjoy life. But if we fill our hands with everything the world has to offer, we aren’t free to reach out for what God has given us.

It’s hard. I know. Like Solomon, I’ve learned from my mistakes. There are times I have overextended my life in hopes to overcome life’s battles. The money battles. The relationship battles. The success battles. The keep-up-with-the-Joneses battles. Both hands full, but heart and soul empty.

Where is that handful of quietness Solomon talks about? I wanted it so badly, but my life-clutter was piled too high. Holding on, but unable to see where I was going – not to mention the weight was too much.

I had to lay it down. I needed to declutter my life. And I’m so glad I did.

Like my house, I’m still working at it.

Just a quick search on Pinterest will reveal 101 plus ways to clean up and organize your home. There’s a better place to search on how to declutter your life. God’s Word. So here it goes. Just a few practical tips along with my go-to source for laying it down and decluttering your life.

First of all, we need to put this one BIG truth out there – You don’t have to do it all to have it all. And you don’t have to have it all. Just what you need. God provides for his children. If you are overworking to overindulge, sort through what you need and start giving up the rest. Go with what’s quick and easy first, then work your way through the hard stuff. Every time you are uncertain go to His Word.

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (MSG)

“Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” Luke 12:15 (NLT)

Second, it’s not always possessions that keep our hands too full. Often it is activities. For some reason, we are convinced we need to be involved, or our kids need to be involved, in every program on the calendar – as if programs are the promise to a prosperous life. They’re not. God is! We need God above all. (You  might need to give up Sundays at the lake my friend.)

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” Mathew 6:33 (MSG)

The last point is tough. People. Sometimes we have to give up people. The friendships we choose will influence our actions and our attitudes. It only makes sense to maintain close friendships with people that draw you near to God, not away from him. And if you are hanging on to friendships that keep filling your hands full of clutter it’s time to make a change. Easier said than done. That’s why it is essential to pray over the people that have a place in your life. Perhaps you are supposed to mentor that friend. Just don’t make the mistake of letting that friend misguide you.

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)

A cluttered house is one thing, a cluttered life is another. If you have killer organizational skills, you can turn a house full of stuff into a house full of organized stuff. But at some point, too much is too much. You’ve got to start getting rid of something.

Life is the same way. You can be a master multi-tasker, but at some point, too much is too much. As you try to juggle it all, you can’t hold on. That’s because we are not supposed to be holding on to it all. Remember, just one handful is enough. And with that other hand… set the Lord before you.  He is at your right hand and you shall not be shaken. Psalms 16:8